DRY ALLAIR WASHING PILOT PLANT TEST RESULTS ON NARYN

SUKHAITS MULTI LAYER COAL

Gendeekhuu Davaatseren - Mongolyn Alt (MAK) LLC, Vice president for Technology and
Research, Ulaanbator, Mongolia, gedavaa@mak.mn, Master of Mineral Provess Engineer,
Magsar Bazarragchaa - Mongolyn Alt (MAK) LLC, Senior Project Engineer, Ulaanbator,
Mongolia, bazarragchaa@mak.mn, Master of Mineral Process Engineer.

ABSTRACT: Coal is the main source of energy vitally important asset that drives the economic
development of the country. Mongolias geological probable reserves of coal are estimated at 173.3
billion tons which about 70% is lignite. There are over 300 deposits and occurrences in 15 different
basins at which over 21.5 billion tons of coal reserves are estimated through detailed exploration work.
Presently about 20 coal companies export unprocessed and processed coals.
Surface water expected in Mongolian coal and other minerals and less environmentally
friendly, low-cost and dry washing issues are standing a problem. Regarding the Naryn Sukhait coal
washing project multilayer coal of seam taken and send to Allmineral German company Allair dry
technology in order to possibility of washing pilot plant tests.
Due to lack of surface water in Mongolia and to be environmentally friendly and economically
towards the others minerals, the dry processing technology is at of great interest.
In order to determine suitability of allair dry technology from Allmineral Germany, these
pilot plant testing is performed for the multi-layer, high ash contented coal within Naryn Sukhait
Washing Plant Project.
Key Words: Mongolian coking coal, dry process, allair, sampling, pilot test, clean coal, ash, pilot
plant.

I. ALLAIR DRY TECHNOLOGY

Idea of allair technology arose originally in 2000 and has been commercialized since 2002 for
the pilot plant testing purpose.
As of today, there are in total 75 allair units are operating around the globe, such as in USA,
Ukraine, India, Turkey, Spain, Colombia and Brazil.
Raw material requirement for the technology is to have coal moisture less than 7%, particle
size within 0-50 mm and each unit has capacity of 5-100 tph.
FGX technologies mean differentiating feature is that the raw coal is analyzed instantly
through nuclear sensor and air pulsed coming from the bottom is regulated automatically. General
operating scheme of the unit is shown below on figure 1.
Today, there are smallest allair unit (5tph) operating in Ukraine, while the largest allair unit
(600 tph) running in Spain and are shown below on figure 2 [2].

Figure 1. allair technology principle

Figure 2. allair plant, capacity 50 tph, Ukraine

II. SAMPLING
As requested by the Allmineral for the pilot plant testing, total of 300.5 kg representing bulk samples
were sent and they were extracted from 3 points in mine-1 area.
The Samples were packaged in closed plastic package with tags and were sent to Germany on
6th April 2013.
Sample area, methods:
1. Mine-1 mid area between (1-7) (1-8) at 18 C block:
Representing samples from bottom, middle, upper and the outer areas were taken from the dump
formed by excavator
2. Floor, Ceiling, dump polluted with explosives (1-10) (1-11) line:
Shovel were utilized to get samples from floor, ceiling areas and samples containing explosive
stones.
3. Mine-1s South west wall between (1-13)(1-14) line:
Up to 5 m thick coal from multi-layer area exposed to atmosphere from Mine-1, South west were
taken with shovel (Figure 3)
In order to determine properties of the original samples, 2 samples from each points were collected
for analyzing and their results are shown on table 1:

Location

Figure 3. Sampling

1-1
1-2
2-1
2-2
3-1
3-2

Table 1. Raw Coal quality

Standard
MNS
MNS 654:1979,
MNS ISO
MNS 655:79
652:1979,
ISO 17246,
501: 2003
ISO, 589
ASTM D3174 ASTM D 3175 ASTM D 720
Volatile matter, Free Swelling
Moisture,%
Ash, %
%
Index
War,
Ad
r
Vad
Vdaf
FSI
1.76
8.2
8.1
31.7
35.1
1
2.23
11.2
11.2
31.1
35.8
0
5.51
31.7
31.1
26.1
40.3
0
8.92
25.4
24.7
27.4
39.9
0
3.29
36.7
36.1
27.7
45
0
4.15
21.6
21
32.3
41.9
1

ISO
15585:2006
Coking
Index
G
11
0
0
0
0
11

III. PILOT PLANT TEST

The pilot plant testing were carried out by Allminerals experts on pilot plant testing unit located in
Duisselberg on 20-24th April, 2013.
For testing bulk sample were blended and mixed until particle size had become 0-40 mm.
After that, the samples were divided into 0-5mm, 1-5mm, 5-40mm particle sizes and the experiment were
performed. The results are shown on table 2, 3, 4 [4].
Based on the test result, correlation between clean coal yield and ash is illustrated on figure 4 [3].

Products
Product - 1
Product - 2
Product - 3
Product - 4
Product - 5
Product - 6
CLEAN COAL
Product - 7
Middling
Sand
REJECT
TOTAL

Products
Product - 1
Product - 2
CLEAN COAL
Product - 3
Product - 4
Product - 5
Product - 6
Product - 7
REJECT
TOTAL

Products
Product - 1
Product - 2
Product - 3
Product - 4
Product - 5
CLEAN COAL
Product - 6
Product - 7
REJECT
TOTAL

Table 1. Test results (0-5mm)

Float
Yield,
Ash,
Yield,
Ash,
Y, %
Adry, %
Y, %
Adry, %
4.64
11.6
4.64
11.6
13.68
12.22
18.32
12.06
14.48
12.8
32.8
12.39
14.8
14.5
47.6
13.04
14.8
15.21
62.4
13.56
15.41
15.68
77.81
13.98
77.81
13.98
16.08
36.13
93.89
17.77
5.84
34.81
99.73
18.77
0.27
67.71
100.0
18.90
22.19
36.17
100.0
18.90
Table 2. Test results (1-5mm)
Float
Yield,
Ash,
Yield,
Ash, Adry,
Y, %
Adry, %
Y, %
%
10.42
13.37
10.42
13.37
13.98
16.39
24.4
15.10
24.4
15.10
14.02
17.06
38.42
15.82
14.6
17.25
53.02
16.21
14.81
17.41
67.83
16.47
15.21
31.93
83.04
19.30
16.96
53.84
100.0
25.16
75.6
28.41
100.0
25.16
Table 3. Test results (5-40mm)
Float
Yield,
Ash,
Yield, Ash, Adry,
Y, %
Adry, %
Y, %
%
7.57
6.16
7.57
6.16
13.46
6.56
21.03
6.42
13.97
7.94
35
7.02
14.67
8.41
49.67
7.43
14.3
18.41
63.97
9.89
63.97
9.89
15.73
33.95
79.7
14.64
20.3
67.63
100
25.39
36.03
52.93
100
25.39

Yield,
Y, %
100.0
95.36
81.68
67.2
52.4
37.6

Sink
Ash, Adry,
%
18.90
19.26
20.44
22.08
24.22
27.77

22.19
6.11
0.27

Yield,
Y, %
100.0
89.58
75.6
61.58
46.98
32.17
16.96

Yield,
Y, %
100
92.43
78.97
65
50.33
36.03
20.3

36.17
36.26
67.71

Sink
Ash, Adry,
%
25.16
26.53
28.41
30.99
35.26
43.48
53.84

Sink
Ash, Adry,
%
25.39
26.97
30.45
35.29
43.12
52.93
67.63

Figure 4. Clean coal yield from ash (0-5mm, 1-5mm, 5-40mm)

SUMMARY
1. It is determined that clean coal containing 9.89% ash with 63.97% yield is possible to achieve by allair
dry technology from Naryn Sukhait multi-layer raw coal with 25.39% ash, 5-40mm particle size (60%).
2. Moreover, the same results can (clean coal ash 13.98%, yield 77.81%) be achieved from Naryn Sukhait
multi-layer raw coal with 18.9%, particle size of 0-5mm.
3. Investment required for dry technology in comparison to wet technology is 3-4 times less, operation cost
5-7 times less.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all would like to say management of Mongolyn Alt (MAK) LLC. Also Allmineral management and
representative in Mongolia Mrs. J.Myadagmaa /info@mongolia-partner.de, phone: 7000 1315/.

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