Numerical Studies of Separation Performance of Knelson Concentrator for Beneficiation of Fine Coal

Abstract

ABSTRACT The separation of fine coal in a laboratory Knelson concentrator was studied through experimental and numerical simulation. The flow field characterized of Kenlson concentrator simulated in a three-dimension laboratory Knelson concentrator by using CFD modeling. The results show that the flow regime can be treated as laminar flow, which propitious to layering for particles. In the riffle part, eddies were created by the rotational flow and fluidizing water. The flow of fluids changes from turbulence to laminar, which was propitious to separation for particles. So, the separation processes were realized in riffle part. The CFD-DEM modeling was applied for the first time in the study of the influence of centrifugal force and fluidizing water rates on the separation performance of a laboratory Knelson concentrator. The simulation results indicate that the Ep value was increased with decreasing the centrifugal force at the constant fluidization water rates, and increased with increasing the fluidization water rates at the constant centrifugal force. The simulation results were consistent with the experimental results and the CFE-DEM model was effective and reliable.