Blackham Resources has reported positive results of lignite samples from the initial coal upgrading test work conducted at its Scaddan coal project, situated in Western Australia. The company has employed the licensable drying technology for improved coal production from the lignite samples.
Raw Scaddan Lignite
The company has been utilizing the coal from the proposed open cut pit region for the testing. This upgrading test work has recommended that the lignite can be dehydrated to below 0.01% of moisture. The company has anticipated that the coal may re-absorb 7-8% of moisture, which results in 19.6 MJ/kg of gross wet calorific value. By decreasing the moisture content from 95% to 0.29% based on 8% moisture, the harmful constituents in the ash can be considerably condensed to chlorine.
The coal upgrading test work by the company is underway along with laboratory testing dependent on several technologies that were successful in lessening the humidity in lignite, which results in between 7% and 25% of moisture.
Blackham’s Managing Director has commented that these sample results are very encouraging in a flow sheet creation for coal upgradation and permitting coal with higher energy for export.
The company requires additional bench scale unit tests to plan for a commercial plant.