Experimental studies of the joint process “hydrotransport – oil agglomeration of coal”

Purpose. Development of highly effective dewatering methods along with preservation of technological properties of hydro-transported coal is one of the key tasks for improving modern pipeline hydrotransportation systems. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to develop the models of “pressure loss in the pipeline – hydrotransport velocity” i = f (V) for the “water-coal-fuel oil” mixtures of different compositions, which reflect regularities of the combined process of “hydro-transport – oil agglomeration of coal”. Methods. Physical modelling of the combined process of “hydrotransport – oil agglomeration of coal” was conducted under the test-field conditions involving specialized hydrotransport installations, i.e. a coal oil granulation stand and a hydraulic study stand. Relying on the experimental data, the trend curves were constructed, for each of which corresponding polynomial functions were determined. Findings. In terms of test field, experimental dependencies of head losses in the pipeline i = f (V) for the water-coal-oil agglomeration slurry were obtained based on the processing of the resulting family of statistical models for a hydrotransportation process of the indicated slurry. Originality. For the first time, polynomial regularities have been obtained that demonstrate the dependence of head losses in the pipeline i = f (V) on the composition and structure of solid and liquid phases of the water-coal-oil-agglomeration slurry. Practical implications. The research results can be used while developing the combined technology “hydrotransport – oil agglomeration of coal” and for designing corresponding industrial or main coal pipelines.