Patent US3020050A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4477338A
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US
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Method and apparatus for processing high-ash coal slurries by flotation, particularly for processing gas coal and open-burning coal which are difficult to float
Assignee: RUHRKOLE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT A GERMAN CORP
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Filing: 1982-03-09
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Granted: 1984-10-16
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Expires: 2002-03-09
Abstract
Abstract A method is proposed for processing high-ash coal sludges by flotation of a slurry in the cells of flotation units, particularly for processing gas coal and open burning coal which are difficult to float, in which the coal slurry to be processed flows through the cells of the flotation unit pre-conditioned and controllably, particularly with control of the dwell time. In a preferred embodiment, the control of the dwell time occurs by a controlled distribution of the slurry to cells of the flotation unit which operate in parallel. For the purpose of controlling the dwell time of the slurry in a flotation unit, cells which are traversed in parallel are additionally connected or disconnected as a function of operating parameters, such as slurry density or solids content or solids distribution.
Inventors
- 👤 Karl Hellmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 05:04
CPC Classifications
B; B03; B03D; B03D1/00; B03D1/02; B03B; B03B1/00; B03B1/04; B03B13/00; B03B13/06; B03B9/00; B03B9/005; B03D1/028; B03D1/14; B03D1/1406; B03D1/1443; B03D1/1475; B03D1/24; B03D1/247
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of processing high-ash coal slurry by flotation of the slurry in flotation cells, comprising the steps of: preconditioning the slurry in a preconditioning tank with floatation agents and air injection, applying motion to the slurry, under pressure, for the disaggregation of the solids or floculent conglomerates due to floculent in the wash water; flowing the slurry through a plurality of cells in parallel of a flotation apparatus to separate the slurry into froth and tails; and controlling the dwell time of the slurry as it traverses the cells.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of processing high-ash coal slurry by flotation of the slurry in flotation cells, comprising the steps of: preconditioning the slurry in a preconditioning tank with floatation agents and air injection, applying motion to the slurry, under pressure, for the disaggregation of the solids or floculent conglomerates due to floculent in the wash water; flowing the slurry through a plurality of cells in parallel of a flotation apparatus to separate the slurry into froth and tails; and controlling the dwell time of the slurry as it traverses the cells.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of introducing air is further defined as: introducing air up to the saturation limit at normal pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of introducing air is further defined as: introducing air beyond the saturation limit at normal pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of introducing air is further defined as: controlling the air introduced into the individual cells in accordance with the solids content of the slurry.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of introducing air is further defined as: controlling the air introduced into the individual cells in accordance with the grain size of the residual coal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of introducing air is further defined as: introducing air in an excess pressure of 2 bar.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of controlling is further defined as: separately adjusting the level of the slurry in the individual cells to control the dwell time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, comprising the steps of: measuring the attles content of the slurry; and controlling the dwell time in accordance with the attles content.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, comprising the steps of: measuring the ash content of the slurry; and controlling the dwell time in accordance with the ash content.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, comprising the steps of: measuring the attles content of the waste of an individual cell; and controlling the dwell time in accordance with the attles content.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, comprising the steps of: measuring the ash content of the waste; and controlling the dwell time in accordance with the ash content.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of controlling is further defined as: measuring the attles content of the waste; and withdrawing attles-containing waste in accordance with the attles content.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of controlling is further defined as: measuring residual coal content of the slurry; and withdrawing attles-containing waste in accordance with the residual coal content of the slurry.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of controlling is further defined as: measuring the residual coal content of the waste; and withdrawing attles-containing waste in accordance with the residual coal content of the waste.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of controlling is further defined as: measuring at least one predetermined operating parameter; and connecting and disconnecting the parallel-operating cells as a function of the measured operating parameter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the step of controlling is further defined as: charging the parallel-operating cells with an amount of slurry which is dimensioned such that the solids input per m 2 of foam flotation surface of a cell (t/h×m -2 ) lies below 10.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of controlling is further defined as: introducing an amount of slurry into a cell in relationship to the cell volume such that the dwell time of the slurry in at least the first cells lies in a range of between 1 and 8 minutes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the step of introducing is further defined as: introducing the amount of slurry in relationship to the cell volume such that the dwell time of the slurry in at least the first cells lies in a range of between 2 and 3 minutes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of controlling is further defined as: measuring the ash content of the waste; and withdrawing attles-containing waste in accordance with the ash content.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 19, wherein the step of withdrawing is performed in response to an ash content of greater than a predetermined percentage.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the predetermined percentage is selected to be 65%.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of controlling is further defined as: measuring the attles content of the waste; and withdrawing attles-containing waste in accordance with the attles content.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 22, wherein the step of withdrawing is performed in response to an ash content of greater than a predetermined percentage.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of controlling is further defined as: measuring a predetermined parameter; and adjusting dwell time in accordance with the measured parameter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 24, wherein the predetermined parameter is selected to be the attles content.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 24, wherein the predetermined parameter is selected to be the ash content.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 24, wherein the predetermined parameter is selected to be the coal content.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 24, wherein the step of measuring is further defined as: applying and measuring X-ray penetration of the slurry.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 24, wherein the step of measuring is further defined as: applying and measuring gamma ray penetration of the slurry.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 24, wherein the step of measuring is further defined as: measuring the color of the slurry.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
103 words
The method of processing high-ash coal slurry by flotation of the slurry in flotation cells, comprising the steps of: preconditioning the slurry in a preconditioning tank with floatation agents and air injection, applying motion to the slurry, under pressure, for the disaggregation of the solids or floculent conglomerates due to floculent in the wash water, including agitating the slurry prior to feeding the same to the flotation cells; flowing the slurry through a plurality of cells in parallel of a flotation apparatus to separate the same into froth and tails; and controlling the dwell time of the slurry as it traverses the cells.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
103 words
The method of processing high-ash coal slurry by flotation of the slurry in flotation cells, comprising the steps of: preconditioning the slurry in a preconditioning tank with floatation agents and air injection, applying motion to the slurry, under pressure, for the disaggregation of the solids or floculent conglomerates due to floculent in the wash water, including agitating the slurry prior to feeding the same to the flotation cells; flowing the slurry through a plurality of cells in parallel of a flotation apparatus to separate the same into froth and tails; and controlling the dwell time of the slurry as it traverses the cells.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus for processing high-ash coal slurry, comprising: a preconditioning container including an agitator for agitating the slurry; control means connected to said container for introducing compressed air therein; said container being an autoclave-like pressure container and including level detection; means connected to said level detection means operable in response to the sensed level to control the additional flotation agents into said container; at least two rows of flotation cells for material separation arranged with said rows operating in parallel, each of said rows adapted to receive, as input material, a respective portion of the slurry; and each of said rows including an adjustable level control device for controlling dwell time of the slurry.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus for processing high-ash coal slurry, comprising: a preconditioning container including an agitator for agitating the slurry; control means connected to said container for introducing compressed air therein; said container being an autoclave-like pressure container and including level detection; means connected to said level detection means operable in response to the sensed level to control the additional flotation agents into said container; at least two rows of flotation cells for material separation arranged with said rows operating in parallel, each of said rows adapted to receive, as input material, a respective portion of the slurry; and each of said rows including an adjustable level control device for controlling dwell time of the slurry.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said apparatus includes: a slurry input comprising three parallel operating cells defining the beginnings of the rows.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 32, and further comprising: measuring devices at predetermined locations for measuring the slurry ash content.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 32, and further comprising: measuring devices at predetermined locations for measuring the coal content.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said level control devices comprise weirs.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said level control devices comprise intermediate withdrawal devices.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said agitator comprises sharp-edged rotatable elements.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 32, and further comprising: means for connecting and disconnecting the flotation cells to control the dwell time of the slurry.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-16 | 1988-04-16 | 1988-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-16 | 1992-04-16 | 1992-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-16 | 1996-04-16 | 1996-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |