Modular mechanical dewatering unit for fine mineral particles
This technology is a specialized piece of equipment designed to remove water and mineral impurities from fine hydrophobic particles like coal. The process works by first forming clumps (agglomerates) of the target particles using oil, then breaking those clumps apart inside a chamber filled with a recyclable hydrophobic liquid. The chamber uses pulsating airflow or a pump to create turbulence through a maze-like packing material, which helps separate trapped water from the particles. The result is a much drier, cleaner product that is more economical to process and transport.
What you could build
A modular dewatering unit sold to coal preparation plants and industrial mineral processors seeking to reduce moisture content in fine-particle streams without expensive thermal drying; buyers would be plant operators and equipment OEMs in the coal and mineral processing industries.
Who in Virginia should care
Coal preparation facilities and mineral processing operations in Southwest Virginia, as well as Virginia Tech's mining and minerals engineering ecosystem, would have direct interest.
Readiness: Prototype likely
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Roe-Hoan Yoon, Gerald Luttrell, Nikhil Gupta
- Granted
- February 18, 2020
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 10561964
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.