Degradation Model of the Gladstone Port Authority's Coal Using Drop Tests

摘要

Degradation characteristics of one month and three months weathered South Blackwater and Ensham coal wore tested using a drop apparatus to minimise the fines generation during transport and handling through the Gladstone Port Authority's ship loading facilities. The weathered coal not only tended to alter chemically but also disintegrated or weakened physically and so produced more fines than normal coal during the tests. It was found that the rate of fines generation increased with larger periods of weathering. A degradation model was developed with several parameters to calculate the total percentage of fines generation in the port handling circuits. The degradation model was used satisfactorily for both types coal tested for different periods of weathering and on different impact surfaces.