Selection of coarse coal processing circuit using Fuzzy TOPSIS method

Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) is a suitable approach for optimizing non-linear processes. Considering various effective variables, these methods usually improve process and non-process efficiency and reduce capital and operating costs of industrial units. In this study, three coal processing circuit options including Heavy Medium Cyclone (HMC), Tri-Flow (TF) and the combined process of Tri-Flow and Bioheap leaching (CTBL) were compared to select the most suitable process for treating Tabas coarse-coals. Some critical parameters namely environmental advantages, circuit simplicity, equipment availability, capital cost, operating cost and income per ton of coal feed were chosen and weighted based on expert point of view and previous investigations. Regarding to qualitative nature of the selected criteria and their associated uncertainty, fuzzy TOPSIS multi-criteria decision-making method was used to evaluate the proposed options. It was found that the highest (0.336) and lowest (0.225) closeness coefficients for the washability of highsulfur coarse coals of Tabas were related to the CTBL and the HMC circuits, respectively.