Some thoughts on the role played by online ash monitoring in construction of intelligent coal preparation plant

In order to bring to light the role played by online ash monitoring in development of intelligent coal preparation plant, based on the interpretation and understanding of the relevant national and industrial policies, the paper elaborates on the following five aspects: the goals set for the development of intelligent coal preparation plant, the problems encountered in online ash monitoring operations, the online ash monitoring technologies currently available and research and development of related equipment, the organizational principle of coal cleaning operations, and intelligent decision-making in clean coal product quality control. It is clearly defined that the ultimate objective for the development of smart coal preparation plant is in compliance with the principle of obtaining a maximum yield of clean coal products. It is pointed out that the long delay of the obtainment of measured ash result that fails to keep pace with the process of coal cleaning operations is a bottleneck restricting the better control of quality of online ash monitoring technologies currently applied, the points which need to be considered in the R & D of such kinds of equipment are proposed. Following an analysis of the principle for achieving maximum yield of products and the requisites for reaching the goal, the paper goes to elaborate on the essential make-up elements of the decision-making in clean coal product quality control, as well as the controlled objects, control strategy and control targets. Result of correlation analysis indicates that online ash monitoring is a necessary yet an inadequate condition for the development of an intelligent coal preparation plant. Finally, several suggestions for laying a solid foundation for the construction of an smart plant are put forward.