AS 4156.

11994

This is a free 7 page sample. Access the full version online.

Australian Standard
Coal preparation
Part 1: Higher rank coalFloat
and sink testing

This is a free 7 page sample. Access the full version online.

This Australian Standard was prepared by Committee MN/1, Coal and Coke. It was
approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on 30 September 1993 and
published on 17 January 1994.

The following interests are represented on Committee MN/1:

Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Australian Coal Association
Australian Coal Industry Research Laboratories
Australian Coal Preparation Society
Australian Institute of Energy
Australian Mining Industry Council
Bureau of Steel Manufacturers of Australia
CSIRO, Division of Coal and Energy Technology
Department of Resource Industries, Queensland
Electricity Supply Association of Australia
Institution of Engineers, Australia
National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia
Queensland Coal Board
Royal Australian Chemical Institute
Standing Committee on Coalfield Geology of New South Wales
University of Newcastle
University of New South Wales
University of Queensland

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to periodic review and are kept up to date by the issue of amendments or new editi ons as necessary. It is
important therefore that Standards users ensure that they are in possession of the latest edit ion, and any
amendments thereto.
Full detail s of all Australi an Standards and related publications wil l be found in the Standards Australia
Catalogue of Publications; this information is supplemented each month by the magazine The Australian
Standard, which subscribing members receive, and which gives detail s of new publi cati ons, new edit ions
and amendments, and of withdrawn Standards.
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are welcomed. Noti fi cati on of any inaccuracy or ambiguity found in an Australi an Standard should be made
without delay in order that the matter may be investigated and appropriate action taken.

This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 92171.

AS 4156.11994

This is a free 7 page sample. Access the full version online.

Australian Standard
Coal preparation
Part 1: Higher rank coalFloat
and sink testing

First publi shed as AS K205 1970.

Revised and redesignated AS 1661 1977.
Second editi on 1979.
Revised and redesignated AS 4156.1 1994.

PUBLISHED BY STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

(STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA)
1 THE CRESCENT, HOMEBUSH, NSW 2140
ISBN 0 7262 8643 5

AS 4156.1 1994

PREFACE
This edition of this Standard was prepared by the Standards Australia Subcommittee on Coal
Preparation, under the supervision of the Committee on Coal and Coke and the direction of
the Multitechnics Standards Policy Board.
Adoption of the recommendations on presentation of results, which follow in part the tabular
and graphic forms developed within ISO/TC 27/SC 1, Coal preparation Terminology and
performance, will aid in the exchange of information relating to the washability of higher
rank coal, and in the assessment of the efficiency and performance of coal preparation plant.
This Standard formed the basis for preparation of ISO 7936:1992.

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The term normative has been used in this Standard to define the application of the
Appendices to which it applies. A normative appendix is an integral part of a Standard.

Copyri ght

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The use of materi al in print form or in computer software programs to be used commercially, with or without payment, or in
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AS 4156.1 1994

CONTENTS

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Page
FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL

1.1 SCOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.2 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.3 DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.4 ANALYSIS AND TESTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.5 SAMPLING AND SAMPLE PREPARATION . . .

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5

SECTION 2 DERIVATION OF TEST SAMPLES

2.1 SCOPE OF SECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.2 SAMPLING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.3 SAMPLE PREPARATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6
6
7

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SECTION 3 GENERAL FLOAT AND SINK TEST PRACTICE

3.1 SCOPE OF SECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.2 SEPARATING MEDIA, APPARATUS AND HYDROMETERS . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.3 BASIC FLOAT AND SINK TEST PROCEDURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
SECTION 4 DEVELOPMENT AND PRESENTATION OF RAW COAL
WASHABILITY DATA
4.1 SCOPE OF SECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.2 PRESENTATION OF TEST RESULTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.3 EXPRESSION OF EFFICIENCY OF A SEPARATION PROCESS . . . . . . . . 22
APPENDICES
A DETERMINATION OF THE BULK SAMPLE MASS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
B A SUGGESTED PROCEDURE FOR FLOAT AND SINK TESTING OF A
SAMPLE OF RAW COAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C CALIBRATION OF HYDROMETERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
D A GENERAL PROCEDURE FOR A CENTRIFUGAL FLOAT AND
SINK TEST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
E SIMULATION OF PLANT ENVIRONMENT BY WET TUMBLING . . . . . . .

35
36
39
41
42

AS 4156.1 1994

FOREWORD
In commercial practice, coal cleaning is conducted largely by processes that take advantage
of a relationship between particle ash percentage and particle relative density. However, coal
particles contain not ash but mineral matter, and the general relationship is therefore only an
approximation.

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Float and sink testing is the standard laboratory method for determining, with respect to
relative density, the washability characteristics of a wide range of coal samples, from bore
core to mine production and coal preparation plant products. Data are derived for a number
of different purposes and form the basis on which to
(a)

establish limits theoretically attainable by density separations, often used as a reference

base and in initial assessment of resource potential during exploration of coal deposits;

(b)

predict and compare results of simulated plant operations for various types and
combinations of processing equipment, facilitating selection of optimum process
arrangement;

(c)

design commercial coal preparation plant (in conjunction with appropriate non-density
based washability data); and

(d)

examine products from operating plant for routine control purposes, or to assess
separation performance critically against established criteria.

AS 4156.11994

STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Australian Standard
Coal preparation

Part 1: Higher rank coalFloat and sink testing

This is a free 7 page sample. Access the full version online.

S E C T I O N

S CO P E

A N D

G E NE R A L

1.1 SCOPE This Standard describes general practice used in determining the float and
sink characteristics of higher rank coal (see AS 2096) and indicates procedures for deriving
test samples. Methods for presenting the washability data obtained, and methods for
establishing some conventional plant performance parameters, are included.
NOTE: For borehole samples, reference should be made to AS 2519, which sets out specific
procedures and float and sink test schemes that have been developed for the various stages of an
exploration program.

1.2 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS The following documents are referred to in this

Standard:
AS
1038
Coal and coke Analysis and testing
1038.20 Part 20: Higher rank coalHardgrove grindability index
2026

Density hydrometers

2096

Classification and coding systems for Australian coals

2162

Code of practice for the use of volumetric glassware

2418

Glossary of terms relating to solid mineral fuels

2519

Guide to the technical evaluation of higher rank coal deposits

2617

Guide for the taking of samples from hard coal seams in situ

2646
2646.6

Sampling of solid mineral fuels

Part 6: Hard coalPreparation of samples

3881

Higher rank coal Size analysis

ISO
7936

Hard coalDetermination and presentation of float and sink characteristics

General directions for apparatus and procedures

1.3 DEFINITIONS For the purpose of this Standard, the definitions given in AS 2418
apply.
1.4 ANALYSIS AND TESTING Where chemical analysis and testing are required, these
shall be carried out in accordance with the various parts of AS 1038.
1.5 SAMPLING AND SAMPLE PREPARATION Samples for float and sink testing
should be obtained and prepared according to the requirements of relevant Standards
(AS 2519, AS 2617, AS 2646) and relevant sections of this Standard, as applicable.
COPYRIGHT

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AS 4156.1-1994 Coal preparation - Higher rank

coal - Float and sink testing

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