Dewatering of fine coal and refuse slurries-problems and possibilities

Dewatering of fine clean coal and refuse slurry is one of the most important aspects of coal cleaning scenario. It is also adds significant cost to the price of clean coal. This article summarizes the current state-of-the art of dewatering being practiced around the world and discuses some of the upcoming novel dewatering technologies. Hyperbaric filter provides a low moisture product for fine coal slurries. For fine coal refuse slurries the Deep Cone Thickener provides dewatered product containing 50 percent solids. The article also discusses economics of dewatering, which is about $3.30/t for fine clean coal slurries.