A review of microwave coal processing

Eleanor Binner, Edward Lester, Sam Kingman, Chris Dodds, John Robinson, Tao Wu, Peter Wardle, Jonathan P. Mathews

Research output: Journal PublicationArticlepeer-review

53 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper reviews the application of microwave energy in coal processing and utilisation. It brings together all of the published work on the microwave treatment of coal. The majority of the work was carried out at lab scale, although a few processes have made it to pilot or even industrial scale. The processes with more immediate promise for scale-up are identified, as are those that require further laboratory scale experiments to establish whether microwave processing should be pursued at a larger scale. The importance of dielectric properties of the materials to be processed is emphasized, and the reasons behind the need for a multi-disciplinary approach to the design and operation of electromagnetic experiments are explained. Microwave coal processing is a diverse area, which has the potential to aid in coal upgrading, cleaning and comminution, thus improving efficiency and reducing harmful emissions of coal usage. Other promising research areas include the investigation of microwave processing for coking, liquefaction, enhancing fluid flow in coal beds and coal characterisation. The paper concludes by discussing the barriers to scale-up that these processes face.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)35-60
Number of pages26
JournalJournal of Microwave Power and Electromagnetic Energy
Volume48
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2014

Keywords

  • Beneficiation
  • Coal
  • Coal cleaning
  • Coal drying
  • Coal grindability
  • Dielectric
  • Microwaves

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Ceramics and Composites
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Metals and Alloys
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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