Single-particle breakage tests of Gladstone Port Authority's coal by a twin pendulum apparatus

Abstract

Abstract South Blackwater and Ensham coal samples were tested in single-particle breakage tests using a laser detector, computer-monitored twin pendulum breakage apparatus to measure the energy utilization pattern of the breakage particles. The single-particle breakage tests were conducted with three particle sizes (−16:0 + 13:2 mm, -13:2 + 11:2 and -11:2 + 9:5 mm) of two types of coal at five input energy levels. The results showed a small variation of comminution energy of same-sized particles when broken at one input energy because South Blackwater and Ensham coal are anthracite coals. The specific comminution energy increases linearly with the input energy for different sizes of South Blackwater coal. The breakage products of the two sizes and two types of coal are shown, where it is clear that the fine in the product increases with the specific comminution energy. The size distribution graphs are curves and not straight lines. The twin pendulum breakage product results show that the fineness of the products increases with the decrease of particle size. The results also show that South Blackwater coal degrades more easily than Ensham coal. At a particular level of input energy, the size distribution resulting from the breakage of coal particles can be represented by a one-parameter family of curves.