Cradle to Gate
Identity ID
f15665ec-8580-4cb4-89a8-887e7cadfa14
Materials
Associated ID
fbeef16f-5d0e-4c99-9797-49af34c2f2ad
Included activities starts
Included activities ends
Description
This dataset represents the life cycle inventory (cradle-to-gate) of the coal beneficiation process starting from dense middlings coal preparation to the production of thermal coal concentrate, covering all activities related to coal washing, but excluding external conditions beyond the coal preparation plant (e.g., raw coal mining, utilization of Clean coal), as well as direct or indirect greenhouse gas emissions arising from personnel commuting and daily office operations during the coal preparation process. Based on national standards such as "Cleaner Production Standards for the Coal Mining and Preparation Industry" (HJ 446-2008) and "Emission Standards of Pollutants for the Coal Industry", this dataset was developed by consolidating data from multiple sources, and it represents the average production level in Inner Mongolia.
Activity Description
This dataset describes heavy medium coal beneficiation, a method that uses a heavy medium suspension to separate coal from impurities. The specific process is as follows:
Coal crushing:
Raw coal is crushed by a crusher into particles suitable for washing, typically below 50 mm. The crushed coal then enters screening equipment for particle size classification.
Preparation of heavy medium suspension:
Magnetite powder or other heavy medium materials are mixed with water to prepare a heavy medium suspension of a specific density. The density of the suspension is adjusted according to the density difference between coal and impurities.
Coal separation:
The crushed coal enters the heavy medium separator. In the suspension, coal with lower density floats while impurities with higher density sink, enabling separation of coal and impurities. The separated light fraction (coal) and heavy fraction (impurities) are discharged through different outlets.
Recovery of dense medium:
The dense medium suspension after separation is processed through a magnetic separator to recover magnetite powder, which is then recycled. The recovered dense medium materials are returned to the preparation stage.
Dewatering:
The separated coal contains a certain amount of moisture and is treated by dewatering equipment such as dewatering screens and centrifuges to reduce moisture content and increase the calorific value of the coal.
Storage and transportation:
After dewatering, the coal is stored and transported. To prevent coal from moisture absorption and spontaneous combustion during storage and transportation, protective measures should be taken, such as using coal sheds or enclosed stockyards for storage.
Process Description
Inner Mongolia thermal coal is mainly distributed in the Pingzhuang coalfield, Zhalainuoer coalfield, Huolinhe coalfield, Yiminhe coalfield, Dayan coalfield, Daqingshan coalfield, Chenqi coalfield, various coalfields in Xilingol League, Dongsheng coalfield, and Zhungeer coalfield. Moisture content ranges from 4.11% to 18.52%, ash content from 4.02% to 47%, volatile matter from 2.9% to 49.73%, total sulfur from 0.09% to 1.42%, phosphorus content from 0.001% to 0.208%, and the net calorific value on an as-received basis (Qnet,ar) ranges from 6,525 to 8,224 kcal/kg.
Time period
2022
2026
Geography
China,Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
Geography comment
Forming average data for Inner Mongolia through data consolidation from multiple sources.
Macroeconomic value
Business-as-Usual
Data validation
Yes
Technology
Current Technology
Technology comment
Heavy middlings coal beneficiation is an effective coal cleaning method primarily used to improve coal quality. This method employs a liquid medium with a density between that of coal and gangue for separation. The separation media used include heavy liquids and suspensions. Currently, both domestically and internationally, suspensions prepared by mixing magnetite powder with water are widely used as the separation medium in coal beneficiation. Heavy middlings coal beneficiation involves several steps, including coal crushing, preparation of the heavy middlings suspension, coal separation, recovery of the heavy middlings, and dewatering processes.