Ultrasonic Coal-Wash for De-Ashing and De-Sulfurization: Experimental Investigation and Mechanistic Modeling

144 Pages·2012·1.51 MB·English

by  B. Ambedkar (auth.)

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B. Ambedkar
Ultrasonic Coal-Wash
for De-Ashing
and De-Sulfurization
Experimental Investigation and
Mechanistic Modeling
Doctoral Thesis accepted by
Indian Institute of Technology Madras,
Chennai, India
123
Author Supervisor
Dr. B.Ambedkar Dr. R.Nagarajan
Department of Chemical Engineering Department of Chemical Engineering
Indian Instituteof Technology-Madras Indian Instituteof Technology-Madras
Chennai Chennai
India India
e-mail: [email protected]
e-mail: [email protected]
ISSN 2190-5053 e-ISSN 2190-5061
ISBN 978-3-642-25016-3 e-ISBN978-3-642-25017-0
DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-25017-0
SpringerHeidelbergDordrechtLondonNewYork
LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2011941669
(cid:2)Springer-VerlagBerlinHeidelberg2012
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Dedicated to my Parents and Teachers

Parts of this thesis have been published in the following journal articles:
1. R. Nagarajan, B. Ambedkar, S. Gowrisankar and S. Somasundaram, ‘‘Devel-
opment of Predictive Model for Fly-ash Erosion Phenomena in Coal-Burning
Boilers’’,Wear,267(2009),122–128.
2. B. Ambedkar, R. Nagarajan and S. Jayanti ‘‘Ultrasonic Coal-Wash for
De-Sulfurization’’, ‘‘Ultrasonics Sonochemistry’’ 18, (2011), 718–726.
3. B.Ambedkar,T.N.Chintala,R.NagarajanandS.Jayanti,‘‘FeasibilityofUsing
Ultrasound-AssistedProcessforSulfurandAshRemovalfromCoal’’,‘‘Chemical
EngineeringandProcessing:ProcessIntensification’’50,(2011),236–246.
4. B. Ambedkar, R. Nagarajan and S. Jayanti ‘‘Investigation of High Frequency,
High-IntensityUltrasonicsforSizeReductionandWashingofCoalinAqueous
Medium’’,‘‘IndustrialEngineeringandChemistryResearch’’journal.(InPress)
vii

Supervisor’s Foreword
Dr. Ambedkar’s thesis work has resulted in four papers, several conference pre-
sentations, and an ‘‘Outstanding Thesis’’ award. This comes as no surprise to me.
Bothintermsofthequantumofworkanditsquality,thisdissertationisamongthe
best in its breed. While ‘‘clean coal technology’’ is on everyone’s wish-list, few
have identified the relevant technologies. Removal of ash and sulfur from Indian
coals prior to combustion using high-intensity acoustic fields is a novel concept
with the promise of high throughput and cost efficiency. By means of well-
designed experiments and sound analytical reasoning, Dr. Ambedkar has enun-
ciated a path to follow. By focusing on Indian coals, this work becomes of
immediate national relevance. While most Indian coals do have high ash content
and low sulfur, there are exceptions; also, increasingly, foreign and Indian coals
are being blended and used in power plants. Hence, simultaneous de-ashing and
de-sulfurizationbecomeacriticalneed.CoalwasheriesbeingoperatedinIndiaare
unabletocleancoalaggressively,beingdesignedprimarilytoremoveloosely-held
dust, dirt and other debris. But more of these are being brought on-line regularly.
This investigation paves the way for optimizing the design of coal washeries for
maximum effectiveness with minimum cost and pollutant discharge. This is
seminalwork with potential for significant impact to the practice of coal washing
in India.
Chennai, September 2011 R. Nagarajan
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