Sheila Devasahayam
Federation University Australia, Australia
Title: Application of polymers in cheap and room temperature drying of coal
Biography
Biography: Sheila Devasahayam
Abstract
Australia has major reserves of black and brown coals with very low impurities. But some coal’s 48-70% moisture content badly reduces their heat generation capability. Energy penalties associated with evaporative drying are very high due to the high heat capacity of water. The alternate non-evaporative drying of coal by methods such as hydrothermal dewatering/high shear extrusion still produces coals with high residual moisture. The aim of this proposal is to significantly dry black & brown coal at room temperature by osmotic transfer of coal's bulk water to a cheap recyclable Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP) in repeated reuse with little degradation.