Modelling vertical water distribution and separation in the unsaturated coal and iron ores during oscillation

Abstract The effect of oscillation on the water distribution in unsaturated coal and iron ores plays a significant role in the material processing but has not been analysed quantitatively. This paper developed a model based on the Richards equation to describe the transient residual water distribution in the unsaturated coal and iron ores, and predict the separated water with time. In this model, the effect of oscillation was quantised as a dynamic potential of the unsaturated water. The model was experimentally verified and applied to characterise the separated and residual water. The effects of initial water content, hydraulic conductivity, dynamic potential and bottom boundary were quantitatively analysed. The results showed that the dynamic potential affects the transient and steady water distribution for the overall height of the coal and iron ores. These findings can be applied to the minimisation of water distribution in wet coal or iron ores and optimisation of their processing.