Simulation of a coal stacking process using an online X-Ray Fluorescence analyser

Abstract

The Sasol Coal Value Chain is a complex system consisting of blending, stacking and reclaiming of no fewer than six different coal sources with vastly different coal qualities. The amount and quality of the gas produced from coal depend crucially on the quality of the coal reclaimed from the coal stacking yards. In this paper the development of a real time coal quality simulation model using information from an online X-Ray Fluorescence analyser, integrated with various data sources from the Coal Supply Facility, is presented. The integration of different data sources is discussed to create a centralised and standardised data framework for input to the simulation model. The simulation of a heap profile of the coal quality for each heap stacked, together with the quality of the reclaimed coal, is discussed in detail. It is shown how the generated information from the model is utilised in the development of a reclaiming strategy.