Dewatering effect of fine coal slurry and filter cake structure based on particle characteristics

• Vacuum pressure, coal slurry concentration, and particle size distribution are important that affect vacuum dewatering.
• Particle size has a great influence on the regeneration of filter medium, filter cake structure, and moisture.
• Kerosene was the best filtration enhancement agent.

An experimental study of the filtration dewatering of fine coal focusing on particle characteristics was carried out. The dewatering behavior was determined by filtration velocity, moisture content and resistance of cake using a vacuum filtration cell. The suitable filtration conditions were explored, the particle grain sizes were tested and filter cake structures were modulated, and the optimum structure of cake modified with kerosene and flocculant agents was determined. Overall, it is found that the amount of the feed particles under 0.045 mm and the uniformity of the feed particles have a direct bearing on the dewatering efficiency. The best filtration enhancement was achieved by the addition of kerosene, which yielded cake moisture ranging from 27.53% to 23.12% compared without any agents.