Coke separation process in paste plant

A process for producing a dense coke fraction for carbon anode production, the process comprising steps of:

• providing an incoming particulate coke stream,
• combining the incoming particulate coke stream with a recycle stream to produce a combined feed coke stream,
• feeding the combined feed coke stream to a particle size separator, separating the combined feed coke stream into one oversize coke fraction, at least one mid-size coke fraction, and an undersize size fraction,
• wherein the mid-size coke fraction has a first average density and a first average particle size distribution;
• feeding the mid-size coke stream to a density separator at an incoming flow rate;
• and
• using the density separator to stratify and separate the mid-size coke stream in into at least two separate particulate fractions of different average density, the at least two fractions comprising a light coke fraction and the dense coke fraction, the dense coke fraction has an average density which is greater than the first average density and an average particle size distribution substantially equivalent to the first average particle size distribution.

An apparatus for producing a dense coke fraction for carbon anode production, the apparatus comprising:

• an inclined oscillating table comprising:
• an upper end discharging the dense coke fraction,
• a lower end, and
• a particulate coke retaining deck extending between the upper end and the lower end, the deck being gas-pervious and adapted for receiving a first coke stream to be densified to the dense coke fraction;
• and
• a gas mover, producing a gas flow rate through the gas-pervious deck.

An apparatus for producing a dense coke fraction for carbon anode production, the apparatus comprising:

• a particle size separator having at least two decks producing an oversize coke fraction, at least one mid-size coke fraction and an undersize fraction,
• a coke transferring apparatus transferring the at least one mid-size coke fraction to a density separator,
• the density separator having an inclined oscillating table comprising:
• an upper end discharging the dense coke fraction,
• a lower end, and
• a particulate coke retaining deck extending between the upper end and the lower end, the deck being gas-pervious and adapted for receiving a first coke stream to be densified to the dense coke fraction;
• and
• a gas mover, producing a gas flow rate through the gas-pervious deck.