COMPUTER APPLICATION IN COAL PREPARATION IN THE PAST DECADE

Since its inception in the 1980s, computer application in various aspects of coal preparation in China has made remark able progress. This paper presents a comprehensive and svstematic discussion of these typical applications. Compared with its froeign counterparts, the application of computer technology in coal preparation in China has been progressing rapidly, though it had started late. In the past decade, computerized coal preparation plant management, automatic control and CAD has not only been practised but has shaped some specific approaches that fit the specific environments of Chinese coal preparation plants. Specifically, computer aided management is approached by incorporating database, information management system and LAN, while centralized equipement control strategy has evolved from importing complete system from abroad to developing software on imported FLC and upper-level computer, resulting in a drastical cut in investment. With the introduction of computers, the control of flotation, jigging and heavy media preparation processes has become conspicuously more flexible and reliable, though at present most of the related realizations have aimed merely at stability control. In addition, a discussion of the development of coal preparation plant CAD and simulation of coal preparation is also presented in this paper.