7th BALKANMINE CONGRESS – Proceedings, Prijedor 2017

DOI: 10.7251/BMC170702161N

SAMPLING AND MESUREMENTS ON THE SYSTEM FOR

PREPARATION AND TRANSPORT OF ASH AND SLAG AT THERMO
POWER PLANT KOSTOLAC B

Jasmina NEŠKOVIĆ1, Klara K. JANKOVIĆ1, Pavle STJEPANOVIĆ1, Dejan LAZIĆ1,

Ivan JOVANOVIĆ2
1
Mining Institute Belgrade, Serbia, jasmina.neskovic@ribeograd.ac.rs
2
Mining and Metallurgy Institute Bor, Serbia; e-mail, ivajo7@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Warranty measurements have been performed for work of the plant according to the designed
parameters at the new system for collecting, preparation and transport of ash and slag hydro-mixture in
TEKO B. The basic designed parameters, which need to be maintained, are in the process of achieving
assigned flow of ash and slag hydro-mixture with designed mass participation of solid phase in the
hydro-mixture, and upon the protocol prepared prior to the warranty measurements. In the process of
warranty measurements was necessary to prove the plant capacity in permanent work and given
parameters. Samples of dry ash and slag have been taken as well as hydro-mixture at the end of
transportation lines to process it partially in the mobile field laboratory and in laboratories of the
Mining Institute.

Key words: ash, slag, transport, sampling, control measurements

1. INTRODUCTION

In the new system for preparation and hydro-transport of ash and slag in the form of dense
hydro-mixture in TEKO B have been done warranty measurements of the plant work in the
designed parameters. The basic project parameters, which ought to be maintained in the
process of implementation of the ash and slag hydro-mixture flow with designed mass
participation of solid phase in hydro-mixture and according the protocol prepared before
warranty measurements.
In addition to electronic record of measured parameters from the automatic process
management system for preparation and transport of hydro mixture of ash and slag, during the
work of the plant has been done the permanent sampling of dry ash and slag in silo at input
point in the process of the hydro-mixture preparation, while at the end of transportation lines
sampling of ash and slag hydro-mixture. Specific mass has been determined on the ash

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samples and total humidity and specific weight on the slag samples. Determination of these
data was done in adequate laboratory for solid fuels in the Mining Institute in Belgrade.
Density of ash and slag hydro-mixture was determined during warranty measurements in field
laboratory behind valve station at the end of the transportation line for hydro-mixture by the
steel pipeline.

2. SAMPLING AND PROCESSING METHODOLOGY FOR DRY ASH, SLAG AND

HYDRO-MIXTURE

Before the start of warranty measures there has been conducted testing for the process water
flow. Measurements of the process water flow were gravimetric by two electric devices for
measuring of piezometers connected and placed in cylindrical section of hydro-mixture tank
with altitude difference of 1 m precisely.
Measurements were conducted in a way that hydro-mixture tanks, one by one, were filled and
emptied with process water with different, selected flows. It was measured the time for which
water fills 1 m of cylindrical part of the tank. Per each selected flow of 150, 200 and 250
(155) m3/h three measures was conducted at each line.
Measured flows of process water comply with calibrated curve of flow gauge; and designed
flow of 170 m3/h is possible to conclude that gauges display accuracy declared by that device
manufacturer ,,ENDRESSHAUSERˮ.

3. SAMPLING EQUIPMENT

Sampling equipment was adjusted to the mode and place of sampling and it was compiled of:
 Sampler for dry ash, of cylindrical shape with diameter of 40 mm, height 70 mm
(Figure 1),
 Sampler for slag, of spoon shape, i.e. spatula (Figure 2),
 Sampler for hydro-mixture, of cone shape (dimensions 350x30 mm) which widens
toward collecting pipe of lean position in relation to the cone with diameter of 60 mm,
(Figure 3).

4. ASH

Ash doze for preparation of hydro-mixture at start of warranty measures was selected from
the ash silo. With noted regime of sampling it was conducted at the last revision outlet of
pneumatic hull directly in front of mixer for dense hydro-mixture preparation.

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Figure 1: Sampler for dry ash

During the plant work in the period of warranty measures in precise time intervals of 15 and
later 30 minutes it was conducted single sampling of dry ash. Sampling was manual by
sampler with longitudinal braking of the dry ash jet in air stream if transporter directly before
measurements of mass flow (console scales).
Samples at the spot were packed in prescribed double paper bags and labeled. It was taken
total of 130 samples. Laboratory testing was done on 72 samples for determination of specific
mass of samples. Other samples of dry ash as well as control samples were collected at each
one hour.

5. SLAG

Slag dozes for preparation of hydro-mixture at the start of warranty measures was selected
from slag silo, and slag sampling was at revision outlet of the bar with cover directly in the
front of mixer for dense hydro-mixture preparation.
During the plant work in the period of warranty measures in precise time intervals of 15 and
later 30 minutes it was conducted single sampling of slag. Sampling was manual by sampler
with longitudinal braking of the flow, falling slag jet directly in front of the hydro-mixer.

Figure 2: Sampler for slag

6. HYDRO-MIXTURE OF ASH AND SLAG

During warranty measurements and the work of the plant for preparation and transport of ash
and slag from EKO B in the form of dense hydro-mixture it was necessary to prove the plant
capacity and to secure free flow out of the hydro-mixture of ash and slag. At the end of the
transport line with steel pipeline it was placed break chamber produced of steel tin plate with

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dimensions of 2x2x2.5 m. At the bottom of the break chamber it was installed pipeline DN
350 for gravitational transport of hydro-mixture to landfill.
On the transport line toward ash landfill, near valve station, there have been formed
temporary field laboratory for measurement of hydro –mixture density samples. Laboratory
was formed in the container for workers lodging near the valve station due to necessary space
conditions and necessary power supply.
In laboratory has been placed calibrated electric scale. Sampling was executed by special dish
by breaking the hydro-mixture jet in one flow. The sampler had one rectangular slit 350x30
mm which secured the condition that B=2.5-3dmax.Collected samples were transported by
field vehicle to the field laboratory.

Figure 3: Sampler for hydro-mixture

Sample from sampler was transported to the dish by steel pipe. Dish for samples with volume
of 5 l with hermetic cover. Collected samples were with volume of 1.5-2 l. samples were
taken every 15-30 min and every hour control samples. There have been taken samples for
each transport line separately and during their work.

7. METHOD FOR SPECIFIC MASS DETERMINATION

Ash specific mass was determined by the standard method (SRPS B B8 032) in glass
picnometer with volume of 50 ml in distilled water. Determination is done with dry sample
(dried to analytical humidity) reduced to the 90% size – 0.09 mm. Examinations was
conducted in accredited laboratory for solid fuels in the Mining Institute.

8. METHOD FOR HUMIDITY AND SPECIFIC MASS DETERMINATION

On the slag samples were conducted determination of humidity value and specific mass.
Determination of the specific mass was conducted by the same method as for the specific
mass of ash. Specific mass was determined after humidity and on the same samples.
Gained value of average specific mass for ash is 2.2813 g/cm3, for slag 2.0058 g/cm3. For
mass relation ash/slag = 90:10; specific mass of solid phase is 2.2513 g/cm3. Average content
of total humidity in slag samples is 44.8%.

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9. METHOD FOR DENSITY DETERMINATION

Slag specific mass was determined in glass picnometer with volume of 50 ml in distilled
water or xylol on samples prepared in accordance with standard SRPS B.H9.003.
Determination is done with dry sample (dried to analytical humidity) with mass of 1-2 g,
reduced to the size – 0.2 mm. Examinations was conducted in accredited laboratory for solid
fuels in the Mining Institute.
Average values of hydro-mixture density on the thrust pumps, with permanent work or
without break, are between 1268.93 over 1309.90 do 1315.09 kg/m3. Minimal recorded value
is 1059.00 kg/m3 and maximum 1352.00 kg/m3.

10. PROCESSING SAMPLES OF ASH AND SLAG HYDRO-MIXTURE

Each sample dish for hydro-mixture was formerly measured and its mass was marked on the
dish and cover. After transportation the dish was inspected and cleaned when needed by paper
towel outside then was measured with the samples so the mass of samples was determined by
subtracting the mass of dish. After determination of the sample mass, the volume was
determined in graded test tubes with volume of 1 or 2 l; previously checked by filling with
water and measuring on the scale. Sample was carefully poured into the test pipe. During
pouring from sample dish to test pipe, deposit on walls and bottom of the dish was washed by
the known quantity of water from the injection bottle. As control it was measures and emptied
the sample dish. All data were recorded electronically in the form in the lap-top computer so
data of measured density were instantly known.
Determination of the mass participation of solid phase was done after determination of density
of solid phase in the laboratory of the Mining Institute.
During warranty measures it was continually monitored and recorded the work regime of the
plant for preparation of dense hydro-mixture and average values were accomplished (Table
1).

Table 1.The mean value of the parameters reached during the entire warranty measurement
Parameter Measure unit Value
3
1. Hydro-mixture density on thrust pump kg/m 1277.25
2. Ash quantity t/h 172.08
3. Water quantity m3/h 218.15
4. Ash and slag hydro-mixture quantity m3/h 326.61
5. Pressure on thrust pump bar 25.79
6. Speed of slag breaker % 18.84
7. Speed of slag breaker % 23.28

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11. CONCLUSION

Using estimation based on gained values for specific mass of solid, water, quantity of ash and
slag we can calculate the quantity of hydro-mixture. Based on gained results it is possible to
conclude that values of given technological parameters of the quantity of ash, slag and density
of hydro-mixture during warranty measurements mainly were fully respected. The water
quantities added during this procedure for preparation of dense hydro-mixture were mostly
below given values.

REFERENCES

(original titles of bibliographic units)

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ideponijipepelana PK ″Ćirikovac″, Beograd, januar 2011. god.
[2] Elaborat o ispitivanjima uslov ahidrotransporta pepela I šljake iz TE „Kostolac-B” na ispitnoj instalaciji
Rudarskog instituta, Beograd, maj 2008. god.
[3] R.J. Jewell, A.B. Fourie, E.R. Lord, (2002) - Paste and Thickened Tailings - A Guide - The University of
Westwrn Australia
[4] Eli I. Robinsky, (1975) - Thickened Discharge - A New Approacch to Tailings Disposal - CIM Bulletin,
[5] T.C. Aude, N.T. Cowper, T.L. Thompson and E.J.Wasp, (1971) - Slurry Piping Systems: Trends, -
Chemical Engineering

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