AU2012397782B2

AU2012397782B2 - Method for unloading water-containing bulk material

Info

Publication number: AU2012397782B2
Application number: AU2012397782A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Yasukazu Hayasaka; Yuki KINUGASA; Kenji Oya
Original assignee: JFE Steel Corp
Current assignee: JFE Steel Corp
Priority date: 2012-12-28
Filing date: 2012-12-28
Publication date: 2016-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 2032-12-28
Also published as: CA2894830C; KR20150086509A; JP6066129B2; CA2894830A1; WO2014103005A1; CN104870343A; AU2012397782A1; BR112015014549A2; CN104870343B; KR101773271B1; JPWO2014103005A1; BR112015014549B1

Abstract

Proposed is an effective processing method for excess water and water suspensions that inevitably occur when unloading water-containing bulk material. During unloading operations when unloading water-containing bulk materials, such as ores or coal, from a freighter using a grab bucket (5) of a bridge crane or an unloader, if a water suspension (Wm) of powder particles that are suspended in the water form, the excess water and powder particles in the water suspension (Wm) are made to condense and aggregate by adding a polymer flocculant to the water suspension (Wm), and then are unloaded with the bulk material.

Description

- 1 SPECIFICATION TITLE: Method for unloading water-containing bulk material TECHNICAL FIELD 5 [0001] This invention relates to a method for unloading a water-containing bulk material, which is developed for solving unloading troubles caused due to free water generated when a water-containing bulk material including ore, coal or the like is intermittently or continuously unloaded from a carrying vessel, a barge or the like with a bridge crane, an unloader or buckets of a continuous unloader. 10 RELATED ART [0002] Bulk materials including ores, coals and the like are mainly imported from abroad, most of which are transported by ships. Recently, these bulk materials, particularly ores or coals have frequently a high water content, and hence water is separated from the bulk material in the transportation process and 15 is at a state of standing in a hold bottom of the ship. As a result, a recess is formed in the bulk material after the clutching with a grab bucket for unloading in middle or last stage of the unloading process by the unloader or the like, which causes a problem that a suspended free water is formed and stood in the recess at a turbid state of suspending powdery particles into the free water and rendered 20 into a slurry state in time to bring about unloading troubles. Similarly, this problem is caused in the unloading process with buckets of a continuous unloader made of a bucket conveyor or the like. Also, when heavy rain occurs during the unloading from the ship, the water content of the bulk material is made higher irrespectively of the presence or 25 absence of the unloading and rainwater becomes at a state of standing in the hold bottom of the ship, which causes the similar unloading troubles. This is also true even in countries with rainy season. If there is provided no roof covering the bridge crane or unloader including the ship, the bulk material is made higher in the water content during the unloading and 30 rendered into a slurry state in time with the continuing of the unloading to bring about the unloading troubles. [0003] As to such problems has hitherto been proposed a method disclosed in -2 Patent Documents 1 and 2, or a method wherein when free water is generated, the free water is pumped up through a drainage equipment (water absorber) once and thereafter the unloading is restarted. PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS 5 PATENT DOCUMENTS [0004] Patent Document 1: JP-A-S60-204526 Patent Document 2: JU-B-550-13339 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION 10 [0005] However, the drainage method by pumping proposed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 has problems that the drainage takes a long time in addition to the increase of equipment cost because the ship is moved to a place provided with the drainage (pumping up) equipment in each case in order to pump up the free water, or the drainage (pumping up) equipment itself is disposed in the hold of 15 the ship to pump up the free water from the hold. Especially, since the free water develops in the recess produced after the clutching of the bulk material with the grab bucket or after the stamping of the bulk material with the buckets of the continuous unloader in the way of the unloading, when the pumping operation of free water as mentioned above is 20 repeated frequently, there is a problem that interrupt and restart of the unloading operation is caused repeatedly to largely deteriorate the operation efficiency. In recent years, such problems are particularly actualized because most of the ores or coals are inferior, for example, ones having a higher water content account too much. 25 [0006] In the conventional techniques proposed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is assumed to pump up the free water only. However, powdery particles having a smaller particle size are often separated from the bulk material and frequently flown into the recess portion formed after the clutching of the bulk material by the grab bucket or after the stamping of the bulk material by the 30 buckets to be sludged (form a slurry). In this case, the pumping up is difficult in the conventional pump, which is a crucial obstacle in the unloading operation. [0007] It would therefore be advantageous if at least preferred embodiments of the invention were to propose an effective method for treating free water or 7413794_1 (GHMatters) P100165.AU KIRSTENA -3 suspended free water inevitably generated in the unloading of water-containing bulk material. MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS [0008] As an effective solution means capable of overcoming the 5 aforementioned problems inherent to the conventional technique, the invention proposes a method for unloading a water-containing bulk material by intermittently or continuously unloading a water-containing bulk material including ore or coal from a cargo ship with a grab bucket of a bridge crane or an unloader or buckets of a continuous unloader, characterized in that when a 10 suspended free water is generated at a state of suspending powdery particles into free water during the unloading operation, at least one of a polymer flocculant and a water adsorbent is added to the suspended free water to cause aggregation and agglomeration of the powdery particles with the free water in the suspended free water and/or adsorption of at least the free water in the suspended free water, 15 which is unloaded together with the bulk material. [0009] The present invention as claimed herein is described in the following items 1 to 9: 1. A method for unloading a water-containing bulk material by unloading a water-containing bulk material including ore or coal from a cargo ship with a 20 grab bucket of a bridge crane or an unloader or buckets of a continuous unloader, characterized in that when a suspended free water is formed at a state of suspending powdery particles into free water during the unloading operation, a polymer flocculant is added to a site of generating the suspended free water and mixed and agitated with the bulk material of the other sites to produce aggregated 25 particles and agglomerated particles for unloading. 2. The method for unloading a water-containing bulk material according to item 1, wherein the polymer flocculant is added in an amount corresponding to 0.4~1.0 mass% of an amount of the suspended free water. 3. A method for unloading a water-containing bulk material by 30 unloading a water-containing bulk material including ore or coal from a cargo ship with a grab bucket of a bridge crane or an unloader or buckets of a continuous unloader, characterized in that when a suspended free water is formed at a state of suspending powdery particles into free water during the unloading 7413794_1 (GHMatters) P100165.AU KIRSTENA -4 operation, a water adsorbent is added to a site of generating the suspended free water and mixed and agitated with the bulk material of the other sites to perform the unloading. 4. The method for unloading a water-containing bulk material 5 according to item 3, wherein a polymer water-absorbing agent is used as the water adsorbent. 5. The method for unloading a water-containing bulk material according to item 3 or 4, wherein the water adsorbent is added in an amount corresponding to more than 0.5 but not more than 3.3 mass% of an amount of the 10 suspended free water. 6. The method for unloading a water-containing bulk material according to any one of items 3 - 5, wherein the water adsorbent is added in an amount corresponding to 1.0-2.0 mass% of an amount of the suspended free water. 15 7. A method for unloading a water-containing bulk material by unloading a water-containing bulk material including ore or coal from a cargo ship with a grab bucket of a bridge crane or an unloader or buckets of a continuous unloader, characterized in that when a suspended free water is formed at a state of suspending powdery particles into free water during the unloading 20 operation, a polymer flocculant and a water adsorbent are added to a site of generating the suspended free water to produce aggregated particles and agglomerated particles by the polymer flocculant, while at least free water in the remaining portion of the suspended free water forming no aggregated particle and agglomerated particle is adsorbed to the water adsorbent to perform the unloading 25 together with the bulk material. 8. A method for unloading a water-containing bulk material by unloading a water-containing bulk material including ore or coal from a cargo ship with a grab bucket of a bridge crane or an unloader or buckets of a continuous unloader, characterized in that when a suspended free water is formed 30 at a state of suspending powdery particles into free water during the unloading operation, a water adsorbent is added to a site of generating the suspended free water to reduce at least the free water in the suspended free water and thereafter a polymer flocculant is added to produce aggregated particles and agglomerated 7413794_1 (GHMatters) P100165.AU KIRSTENA - 4a particles to perform the unloading together with the bulk material. 9. The method for unloading a water-containing bulk material according to any one of items 1 - 8, wherein a powdery ore ratio (-) represented by a ratio of weight of bulk material to weight of suspended free water including 5 the polymer flocculant and/or the water adsorbent is not less than 7. EFFECT OF THE INVENTION [0010] According to the adoption of the invention method having the above constructions, even if the suspended free water is generated on the way of the unloading in the hold of the cargo ship, at least one of the polymer flocculant and 10 the water adsorbent is added to bring about the aggregation/agglomeration of powdery particles with the free water and/or to adsorb at least the free water with the water adsorbent (water-absorbing/water-holding) and then the solid matter (free water, polymer flocculant, water adsorbent, powdery particles) is unloaded with the other bulk material, so that it is not necessary to perform the pumping 15 operation of only the suspended free water. Therefore, the continuous unloading operation can be performed without causing interrupt of the unloading operation as in the conventional technique, so that the efficiency of the unloading operation can be improved significantly. 7413794_1 (GHMatters) P100165.AU KIRSTENA -5 [0011] In the case of using only the polymer flocculant, dry feeling particles are formed by reaction between the polymer flocculant and the powdery particles of the ore, so that bad influence such that raw material is hardly mixed or the like can be eliminated through the adhesiveness. Also, since the amount used is less, 5 there is a merit that the cost is low. On the contrary, the water content is limited in the polymer flocculant, and the powdery particles are entangled and water is taken thereinto, so that the flocculant is easily influenced by the hydrophilic nature of the bulk material itself and hence there is a drawback that it is necessary to increase or decrease the 10 amount of the flocculant used in accordance with the kind of the bulk material. [00121 On the other hand, in the case of using only the water adsorbent, water can be adsorbed indefinitely by increasing the amount of the adsorbent, so that there is a merit that there is no upper limit in the water absorbing amount. However, unit price is high and the use amount is large to cause 15 higher cost. For example, a polymer adsorbent bounds on a conveyor belt and makes a gap or an eccentrically-located water place between the powdery particles, so that there is a demerit that a bad influence is caused in subsequent steps or a transportation line. [0013] When the polymer flocculant and the water adsorbent are used 20 together, there are merits that water existing in a region not taken with the polymer flocculant can be adsorbed by the water adsorbent to enhance the upper limit of water content in the bulk material, and the cost can be lowered as compared with the case of using only the water adsorbent, and the influence upon subsequent steps or transportation line can be made small as compared with the 25 use of only the water adsorbent. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a condition of unloading a bulk material inside a cargo ship with a grab bucket of an unloader. FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a condition of unloading a bulk 30 material inside a cargo ship with buckets of a continuous unloader. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an action when adding a polymer flocculant or a water adsorbent to a suspended free water.

-6 FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an action when adding both of a polymer flocculant and a water adsorbent to a suspended free water. FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a laboratory vessel. FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating an unloading method with a 5 grab bucket of an unloader according to the invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic view representing names of parts of a continuous unloader to be inserted into a hold of a ship. FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating an unloading method with buckets of a continuous unloader according to the invention. 10 FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating a preferable unloading method with buckets of a continuous unloader according to the invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating another preferable unloading method with a grab bucket of an unloader according to the invention. EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 15 [0015J An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings below. As shown in FIG. 1, when ore or coal called as a bulk material 2 housed in a hold (luggage) 1 of a cargo ship (which is also called as "ores" hereinafter) is unloaded with a grab bucket of a bridge crane or an unloader, a 20 pool 3 of free water is generally generated in a lower portion of a sedimentary layer of the ores. As the unloading operation of the bulk material 2 proceeds to a middle to lower portion thereof, it is known that a recess 4 is formed in a part of the sedimentary layer of the bulk material after the clutching with the grab bucket and a suspended free water Wm is stayed in the recess 4 at a state of dispersing 25 and suspending powdery particles mainly separated from gravel-like ores. [0016] When the suspended free water Wm is generated in the sedimentary layer of the bulk material inside the hold, it is gradually rendered into a slurry with the advance of the unloading, and hence it is difficult to perform the unloading with the grab bucket 5 of the unloader or the like. Once the slurry is 30 formed, even if it could be clutched with the grab bucket 5, it is flown out from a hopper or a part of a belt conveyor (not shown) in the unloader, so that it is impossible to keep the running of the unloader. Particularly, such a state is -7 frequently caused in the bottom of the hold 1, so that it is frequently required to interrupt the unloading operation for pumping out the free water. This problem is true even in the case of unloading with buckets of a continuous unloader recently used instead of the unloading with the grab bucket. 5 In the case of the continuous unloader as shown in FIGs. 2 and 7, a vertical support beam is inserted into the hold 1 to perform the unloading through continuous stamping with the plural buckets 5. The buckets 5 are connected through a chain, while the length inserted into the hold 1, the stamping length and the like can be adjusted by adjusting a length between sprockets through a 10 hydraulic cylinder mechanism and the stamping depth is adjusted by a driving link. Also, the buckets 5 are rotated anticlockwise by driving with another driving device to stamp the surface of the bulk material while adjusting the stamping quantity with the driving link, whereby the unloading can be performed in a high operation efficiency. The stamped bulk material is unloaded outside of 15 the ship through a bucket elevator. In a lower portion of the sedimentary layer of the bulk material is generated a water pool 3 separated from the bulk material in the transportation process and stood in the bottom of the hold, or a water pool 3 stood by increasing water content with rainy water. As the unloading operation with the continuous 20 unloader proceeds to a middle to lower portion of the sedimentary layer, a recess 4 is formed in a part of the sedimentary layer of the bulk material after the stamping with the buckets, and a suspended free water Wm is generated in the recess 4 at a suspended state. It is gradually changed into a slurry with the advance of the unloading, and hence the unloading with the buckets 5 of the 25 continuous unloader becomes difficult. That is, once the slurry is formed, even if the stamping could be performed with the buckets 5 like the grab bucket, the slurry is flown out from the hopper or belt conveyor part of the continuous unloader, and hence the operation of the continuous unloader cannot be continued. 30 [0017j In the invention, therefore, when the suspended free water Wm is generated, a predetermined amount of at least one of a polymer flocculant and a water adsorbent such as a polymer water-absorbing agent or the like is added to -8 the suspended free water Wm inside the recess 4. For example, powdery particles in the suspended free water (free water + powdery particles) are entangled with the polymer flocculant to cause aggregation/agglomeration for granulation, or the suspended free water Wm is adsorbed (absorbed and held) on 5 the water adsorbent and unloaded with the bulk material, whereby it is attempted to improve the efficiency of the unloading operation. According to the invention method, aggregated/agglomerated granules and/or the water adsorbent adsorbing the suspended free water Wm can be simultaneously unloaded together with the bulk material 2 including ores and the 10 like. 10018] FIGs. 3(a) -(c) show a state of adding a polymer flocculant A to the suspended free water Wm containing powdery particles P. In this addition to the suspended free water Win, a part of the powdery particles P is first entangled with polymers of the polymer flocculant A having a ramified molecular chain and 15 aggregated to form some aggregated particles 6 having a small particles size as shown in FIG. 3(b). Then, plural aggregated particles 6 are agglomerated (collected) with the lapse of time (progression of unloading) to form into agglomerated particles 7 having a large particle size as shown in FIG. 3(c). [0019] At this stage, the suspended free water Wm comes into a solid state 20 and can be easily clutched or scraped out with the grab bucket 5 or the like, so that the suspended free water Wm itself is unloaded together with the bulk material. [00201 FIGs. 3(d) and (e) show a state of adding a water adsorbent B to the suspended free water Wm containing powdery particles P. Water in the 25 suspended free water Wm is confined in a bridging structure of the water adsorbent B together with the powdery particles P to form granules at a swollen state as shown in FIG. 3(e). t0021] Since the suspended free water Wm is rendered into a solid state (swollen state) by being absorbed with the water adsorbent B, it can be easily 30 clutched with the grab bucket 5, and hence the suspended free water Wm itself can be unloaded together with the bulk material 2. Similarly, the suspended free water Wm can be stamped together with the bulk material 2 by the buckets of the -9 continuous unloader. [00221 In another embodiment of the invention, it is desirable that at least one of the polymer flocculant and the water adsorbent is added to the suspended free water Wm, while gravel-like bulk material 2 located near to the recess 4 or at 5 other sites is added thereto with the grab bucket 5 and is hopefully agitated (repetitive operation of clutching and open dropping with the grab bucket) in order to promote the formation of solid to improve the efficiency of unloading operation. Moreover, in the case of the continuous unloader, it is desirable that at 10 least one of the polymer flocculant and the water adsorbent is added to the suspended free water Wm, while gravel-like bulk material 2 located near to the recess 4 generated by stamping with the bucket or at other sites is scraped with the buckets and is hopefully agitated (repetitive operation of switching in the scraping direction with the buckets) in order to promote the formation of solid to 15 improve the efficiency of unloading operation. [0023] As the water-soluble polymer flocculant used in the invention can be used such a kind of agent that forms aggregated particles by adding to the suspended free water wherein adsorption activity is caused in the particles by electrostatic force and hydrogen bond of the polymer to bring about bridging 20 action between the particles to thereby form a structure of solid particles. For example, powdery, granular or liquid organic flocculants such as polyacrylamide (copolymer of acrylamide and sodium acrylate), polyvinyl amidine, amphoteric polymer and so on are preferable because they develop not only the aggregation action but also the agglomeration action. Of course, they may be used together 25 with an inorganic flocculant. Also, a cationic polymer of acrylic acid, a cationic polymer of acrylamide, a polymer of methacrylic acid, a cation polymer of methacrylate aminoester, a polymer of amidine or the like may be used. [0024] As the water adsorbent can be used, for example, a high 30 water-absorbing resin (Super Absorbent Polymer, abbreviated as SAP). An agent being fast in the water absorbing rate and having a high water absorption and a high water holding property and hardly releasing water even if some force - 10 is applied from the outside to the absorbed water, for example, a polymer water-absorbing agent such as a polyacrylate (sodium or potassium) resin or the like is preferable. This polymer water-absorbing agent has a property indicating no adhesion even if water is adsorbed in the molecular structure after the water 5 absorption. In this meaning, it is more preferable to use together with an inorganic silica gel, an activated alumina, zeolite or the like. As the water adsorbent are used powdery and granular ones. Moreover, the reason of using the powdery or granular water adsorbent is due to the fact that the contact area with the free water is enhanced to 10 increase the water absorbing rate. Since fine powder should be avoided for antiscattering in use, the particles size is not less than 0.5 mm but less than 10 mm. More preferably, it is not less than 1 mm but not more than 5 mm. [0025] When the particle size is less than 0.5 mm, the scattering in use cannot be prevented effectively, while when it is not less than 10 mm, the contact area 15 with the free water becomes relatively small, which tends to decrease the water absorbing rate and takes a long time for absorbing water, and hence sufficient effect cannot be obtained in a short time. Therefore, it is more preferably not less than 1 mm but not more than 5 mm. [0026] When both of the polymer flocculant and the polymer water-absorbing 20 agent as the water adsorbent are added to the suspended free water Win, similar effects are finally obtained irrespective of simultaneous addition as shown in FIGs. 4(a)-(c) and previous addition of polymer flocculant and subsequent addition of polymer water-absorbing agent as shown in FIGs. 4(d)-(f). [0027] In FIGs. 4(a)~(c), the polymer flocculant and the polymer 25 water-absorbing agent dealing with water, which cannot be treated with only the flocculant, are simultaneously added and agitated to perform entanglement of powdery particles and water molecule with the high molecular polymer and adsorption of excess water molecule or the like with the polymer water-absorbing agent, whereby the aggregated particles and swollen polymer water-absorbing 30 agent are finally rendered into agglomerates as shown in FIG. 4(c). [0028] In FIGs. 4(d)-(f), KURISAT C-333L (made by KURITA KOGYO Inc., registered trademark) as an example of the polymer flocculant is first added to the - 11 suspended free water Wm and agitated to produce aggregation of powdery particles and water molecule, and thereafter KURISAT C-500L (made by KURITA KOGYO Inc., registered trademark) as an example of the polymer water-absorbing agent is added and agitated. 5 As a result, the aggregated particles and the swollen polymer water-absorbing agent are united with each other in clumps as shown in FIG. 4(f) to obtain agglomerates similar to those of FIG. 4(c). [0029] There will be described an experiment for confirming the action and effect of the invention below. 10 This experiment is carried out with an iron vessel C shown in FIG. 5. Carajis iron ore having a high water content produced in Brazil is used as a water-containing bulk material ore and charged conically to be accumulated in the iron vessel C, and water is added thereto. Then, just a middle portion of the conically accumulated layer is taken up to form a recess 15 therein, and a water-soluble polymer flocculant of polyacrylamide is added at a stage of generating a water pool (corresponding to suspended free water). [0030] In this experiment, it is revealed that the action of entangling powdery particles and water molecule with the high molecular polymer is caused even when only the polymer flocculant of polyacrylamide is added to Carajis iron ore, 20 but it is yet small, and hence it is necessary to take some kind of treatment. Now, agitation is performed by stirring the water pool portion in the recess generated in the middle portion with a shovel. Moreover, the stirring operation imitates the repetitive operation of clutching and open dropping with the grab bucket in actual machine. 25 [0031] The experimental results are shown in Table 1. As seen from the experimental results, the effect is small in the simple additions of the polymer flocculant or the like without agitation. On the other hand, when the agitation is performed (30-80 seconds), a powdery ore ratio (-) represented by a ratio of weight of bulk material to weight of suspended free water including the polymer 30 flocculant and/or the water adsorbent is particularly made to not less than 7. In this case, better effects are obtained when the amount of the polymer flocculant corresponding to 0.4~1.0 mass% is added to the suspended free water. [0032] Also, it can be seen that the addition effect is further improved when 7413794_1 (GHMatters) P100165.AU KIRSTENA - 12 the polymer flocculant is added to the suspended free water and further mixed with Carajis iron ore as another bulk material. [0033] When the numerical value represented as a weight ratio in Table 1, i.e. a ratio of weight of bulk material included in the suspended free water is not less 5 than 7, aggregation/agglomeration of powdery particles can be progressed sufficiently to surely obtain agglomerated particles. Moreover, the term "agglomerated particles" means agglomerates having a strength to an extent of clutching, for example, with the grab bucket or the like. [0034] Table 1 Concentration of polymer flocculant Powdery ore ratio Effect Agitating time (sec) (mass%) (weight ratio) 0.4 1 x 0.4 5 x 0.4 7 0 80 0.4 10 0 60 0.4 30 0 30 0.6 10 0 50 1.0 1 x 1.0 5 x 1.0 7 0 60 1.0 10 0 50 1.0 30 0 50 10 Powdery ore ratio (-) = weight of bulk material/weight of suspended free water including the polymer flocculant and/or the water adsorbent [0035] Further, another experiment conducted for confirming the action and effect of the invention will be described below. 15 This experiment is carried out with an iron vessel C shown in FIG. 5, wherein Carajis iron ore having a high water content produced in Brazil is used as a water-containing bulk material ore, conically charged to be accumulated in the iron vessel C and added with water, and then just a middle portion of the conically accumulated layer is taken up to form a recess with a shovel, at which a 20 water pool (corresponding to suspended free water) is generated and a granulated (bead-like) resin of sodium polyacrylate as the polymer water-absorbing agent is added to the water pool. [0036] The experimental results are shown in Table 2, from which it is revealed that when the polymer water-absorbing agent is simply added, lumps 7413794_1 (GHMatters) P100165.AU KIRSTENA - 13 (agglomerates) of the polymer water-absorbing agent are formed after the addition and water absorption to cause troubles in the handling. Here, the polymer water-absorbing agent means an agent involving an amount of water corresponding to several hundred times or more of own weight to conduct 5 swelling. For example, the polymer water-absorbing agent (water-absorbing high molecular polymer) has a property of swelling to about 400 times in pure water. However, it is confirmed that about 200 times is practically critical in the suspended free water at a state of suspending powdery particles in free water as 10 in the invention. When the swelling ratio of the polymer water-absorbing agent added is small, the swollen body is apt to easily bound and is anticipated to scatter outside the conveyor during the transportation with the belt conveyor or the like, so that the swelling ratio is preferable to be not less than 30 times. [0037] In order to make the amount of the water adsorbent (water-absorbing 15 high molecular polymer) added to the suspended free water Wm not more than about 200 times as converted to the swelling ratio, the amount of the water adsorbent to the suspended free water is an addition amount of more than 0.5 mass%. Also, in order to make the swelling ratio not less than 30 times, the addition amount of the water adsorbent is not more than 3.3 mass%. 20 As shown in Table 2, it is said that the addition amount of the water adsorbent is preferable to be not less than 1.0 mass% when the swelling ratio is not more than 100 times and not more than 2.0 mass% when the swelling ratio is not more than 50 times. [0038] Table 2 Swelling ratio (times) Result Swelling time (s) 50 0 62 100 0 420 200 x (water cannot be completely absorbed) 300 x (water cannot be completely absorbed)) 25 t00391 In this experiment, even when granules of sodium polyacrylate resin are simply added to Carajis iron ore, lumps (agglomerates) are formed as - 14 previously mentioned, but the adsorption action to the suspended free water containing powdery particles is weak, and hence it is revealed that it is necessary to take some kind of treatment. In this experiment, therefore, the stirring operation with a shovel is conducted at the water pool portion formed in the 5 central recess 4. Moreover, the stirring operation imitates the repetitive operation of clutching and open dropping with the grab bucket in actual machine or the stirring operation repeating the switching in the scraping direction with the buckets in the continuous unloader. EXAMPLE 1 10 [0040] Carajis iron ore at a state of separating water from a bulk material in the import process and retaining a free water in the bottom of the hold at the arrival within the country is explained as an example of the iron ore. [0041] When Carajis iron ore having a water content of 7.9-24.7 mass% is unloaded from a carrying vessel as an iron ore at a state shown in FIG. 6(a), an 15 acrylamide based polymer flocculant is added in an amount so as to form a concentration of 0.6 mass% to an amount of a suspended free water. The amount of the polymer flocculant to the amount of the suspended free water Wm is determined by a method of estimating an amount of the polymer flocculant to be added from a capacity of a grab bucket because the suspended free water Wm 20 is generated after the clutching with the grab bucket. Similarly, the judgment of powdery ore ratio of not less than 7 is also performed by estimation from the capacity of the grab bucket. [0042] After the polymer flocculant is added to the suspended free water Wm generated in a recess portion formed in an ore deposited layer inside the hold, the 25 bulk material (Carajis iron ore) around the suspended free water Wm is charged into the suspended free water Wm in an amount corresponding to about 10 times of the suspended free water Wm and stirred with the grab bucket for 30-80 seconds. That is, the unloading operation is performed after the repetitive operation of clutching and open dropping the bulk material (polymer flocculant) 30 with the grab bucket 5. As a result, the action of entangling the powdery particles and free 7413794_1 (GHMatters) P100165.AU KIRSTENA - 15 water in the suspended free water Wm with the high molecular polymer is promoted by adding and stirring the polymer flocculant into the suspended free water Wm, and hence particles aggregated with the polymer further form big lamps (agglomerated particles) to make the unloading possible. 5 f00431 Although a great amount of free water has been retained in the bottom of the hold in the past, the amount of residual free water is decreased by the aforementioned treatment. As seen from the above results, since Carajas iron ore itself has a large water content, a large amount of free water is generated during the unloading onto land in the conventional transportation of Carajis iron 10 ore, so that the operation of removing (discharging) the suspended free water Wm is performed intermittently, whereas when the unloading method adapted to the invention is adopted, assuming that the efficiency at the time of generating no free water is 100%, the efficiency of about 92% can be attained though the efficiency is only 65% in the unloading operation associated with the discharging 15 operation. EXAMPLE 2 [0044] When Carajas iron ore as an example of the bulk material 2 at a state shown in FIG. 6(a) is unloaded from a hold I of a carrying vessel, polyacrylate resin granules as a polymer water-absorbing agent is added to a suspended free 20 water in an amount corresponding to 1.0-2.0 mass% instead of the polymer flocculant of Example 1. [0045] The amount of the polymer water-absorbing agent to the suspended free water is determined by a method of estimating an amount of the polymer absorbent to be added from the capacity of the grab bucket 5 because the 25 suspended free water Wm is generated in the recess 4 after the clutching with the grab bucket. Similarly, the judgment of numerical value of not less than 7 indicating a ratio of weight of bulk material to amount of suspended free water as a weight ratio is performed by estimating from the capacity of the grab bucket. [0046] After the polymer water-absorbing agent is added to the suspended 30 free water Wm generated in the recess portion 4 formed in an ore deposited layer inside the hold, the bulk material 2 (Carajis iron ore) around the suspended free water Wm is charged into the suspended free water Wm and stirred with the grab - 16 bucket 5. That is, the unloading operation is repeated after the repetitive operation of clutching and open dropping the bulk material with the grab bucket 5. As a result, the unloading is made easy by adding the polymer 5 water-absorbing agent to the suspended free water Wm and stirring them to promote the action of adsorbing the powder and free water molecules in the suspended free water Wm onto the polymer adsorbent. Moreover, the polymer water-absorbing agent may be built up to form a large aggregate only by the repetition of clutching and open dropping and hence 10 the hopper is easily clogged and even if the polymer water-absorbing agent could be dispersed, the swollen body easily bounds and may be dropped from the belt conveyor during the transportation. Therefore, the powdery ore ratio is made to not less than 7, whereby the swollen body (polymer water-absorbing agent) absorbing the suspended free water Wm is more dispersed into the bulk material. 15 [0047] Although a great amount of water is retained at the bottom of the hold in the past, the residual water is decreased by the aforementioned treatment. As seen from the above results, since Carajis iron ore itself has a large water content, a large amount of free water is generated during the unloading onto land in the conventional transportation of Carajis iron ore, so that 20 the operation of removing (discharging) the suspended free water Wm is performed intermittently, whereas when the unloading method adapted to the invention is adopted, assuming that the efficiency at the time of generating no free water is 100%, the efficiency of about 90% can be attained though the efficiency is only 65% in the unloading operation associated with the 25 conventional discharging operation. EXAMPLE 3 [0048] There will be explained below an example of an iron ore having excessive water content due to continuous unloading by means of a continuous unloader in heavy rain. 30 [0049] When the iron ore of a state shown in FIG. 8(a), wherein the 7413794_1 (GHMatters) P100165.AU KIRSTENA - 17 unloading operation is promoted by continuing the unloading with buckets of the continuous unloader as shown in FIG. 7 during heavy rain, and the generation of free water due to the increase of water content in heavy rain starts to be observed at a stage of arriving at the lower layer portion in a last half of the unloading, is 5 unloaded from the carrying vessel, polyacrylate resin granules as a polymer water-absorbing agent are added to the suspended free water in an amount of 1.0-2.0 mass%. The amount of the polymer water-absorbing agent to the amount of the suspended free water Wm is determined by a method of estimating an amount 10 of the polymer absorbent to be added from a drilling amount based on a bucket capacity and drilling depth because the suspended free water Wm is generated in the recess formed after the drilling with the buckets. Similarly, the numerical value indicated as a weight ratio is also estimated from the drilling amount based on the bucket capacity and drilling depth. 15 [00501 After the polymer water-absorbing agent is added to the suspended free water Wm generated in the recess portion formed in a deposited layer of the bulk material inside the hold 1, the bulk material surrounding the suspended free water is stamped and charged into the suspended free water with the buckets and then stirred with the buckets. 20 That is, the stirring of the bulk material and the polymer absorbent is repeated by the stirring operation through the repetitive operation of switching the stamping direction with the buckets of the continuous unloader, and thereafter the unloading operation is continued. As a result, the polymer water-absorbing agent is added to and stirred with the suspended free water Wm, whereby the 25 adsorption action of the powdery particles and free water in the suspended free water onto the polymer water-absorbing agent is promoted to facilitate the unloading. Moreover, the polymer water-absorbing agent may be built-up to form large lumps only by repeatedly stirring through the switching in the stamping 30 direction with the buckets and hence the hopper is easily clogged and even if the polymer water-absorbing agent could be dispersed, the swollen body easily bounds and may be dropped from the belt conveyor during the transportation.

- 18 Therefore, the powdery ore ratio is made to not less than 7, so that the swollen body (polymer water-absorbing agent) absorbing the suspended free water Wm can be more dispersed into the bulk material. [0051] When the free water is observed on the way of the unloading, a great 5 amount of water is retained on the bottom of the hold in the past, but the residual free water is decreased by the above treatment. As seen from the above result, the unloading during heavy rain is refrained in the past, but when the unloading method adapted to the invention is adopted in the unloading onto land, assuming that the efficiency in the ordinary operation is 100%, the efficiency of about 85% 10 can be attained even in the unloading during heavy rain for a long time. EXAMPLE 4 [0052] There will be explained below an example of coal having excessive water content due to continuous unloading by means of a continuous unloader in heavy rain. 15 [0053] When coal at a state in FIG. 9(a), wherein the unloading operation is promoted by continuing the unloading with buckets of a continuous unloader as shown in FIG. 7 during heavy rain, and free water starts to be observed due to the increase of water content in heavy rain at a stage of arriving at a lower layer portion in the last half of the unloading, is unloaded from a carrying vessel like 20 the unloading of iron ore in Examples 1, 2 and 3, polyacrylate resin granules as a polymer water-absorbing agent are added to the suspended free water in an amount of 1.0-2.0 mass%. The amount of the polymer absorbent to the amount of the suspended free water Wm is determined by a method of estimating an amount of the 25 polymer absorbent to be added from a drilling amount based on the bucket capacity and drilling depth because the suspended free water is generated in the recess after the drilling with the buckets. Similarly, the numerical value indicated as a weight ratio is also estimated from the drilling amount based on the bucket capacity and drilling depth. 30 [0054] After the polymer water-absorbing agent is added to the suspended free water Wm generated in the recess portion generated at the deposited layer of bulk material inside the hold, coal around the suspended free water is stamped into the suspended free water with the buckets and stirred with the buckets. 7413794_1 (GHMatters) P100165.AU KIRSTENA - 19 Namely, the stirring of coal and polymer water-absorbing agent is repeated by the stirring operation through the operation of repeating the switching in the stamping direction with the buckets in the continuous unloader, and thereafter the unloading operation is continued. 5 As a result, it has been confirmed that the action of adsorbing the powdery particles and free water molecules in the suspended free water on the polymer water-absorbing agent is promoted by adding and stirring the polymer water-absorbing agent to the suspended free water Wm to facilitate the unloading. Moreover, the polymer water-absorbing agent may be built-up to form 10 large lumps only by repeatedly stirring through the switching in the stamping direction even in the case of the coal like the iron ore, and hence the hopper is easily clogged and even if the polymer water-absorbing agent could be dispersed, the swollen body easily bounds and may be dropped from the belt conveyor during the transportation. Therefore, the powdery ore ratio (-) is made to not 15 less than 7, so that the swollen body (polymer water-absorbing agent) absorbing the suspended free water is more dispersed into the bulk material. [0055] When the free water is observed on the way of the unloading, a great amount of water is retained on the bottom of the hold in the past, but the residual free water is decreased by the above treatment. 20 As seen from the above result, the unloading during heavy rain is refrained in the past, but when the unloading method adapted to the invention is adopted in the unloading onto land, assuming that the efficiency in the ordinary operation is 100%, the efficiency of about 95% can be attained even in the unloading during heavy rain for a long time. 25 [0056] Since the polymer water-absorbing agent is underuse even in Examples 2-4, when the mixture is unloaded onto a land by a belt conveyor through the grab bucket or the buckets and built up on a raw material yard, the 7413794_1 (GHMatters) P100165.AU KIRSTENA - 20 iron ore can be used as a sintering material and the coal can be used as a raw material for coke. EXAMPLE 5 f0057] There will be explained an example of unloading Carajas iron ore, 5 which is at a state of separating water from a bulk material in the import process and retaining a free water in the bottom of the hold at the arrival within the country, by means of a continuous unloader. [0058] When Carajds iron ore having a water content of 7.9 mass% -24.7 mass% is unloaded from a carrying vessel at the unloading of an iron ore at a 10 state shown in FIG. 6(a), an acrylamide based polymer flocculant is added in an amount so as to form a concentration of 0.6 mass% to an amount of a suspended free water. The amount of the polymer flocculant to the amount of the suspended free water Wm is determined by a method of measuring a quantity of a recess from a drilling amount based on a capacity of a grab bucket and a drilling 15 depth and estimating an amount of a suspended free water Wm generated in the recess to determine an amount of the polymer flocculant to be added because the suspended free water Wm is generated in the recess after the stamping (drilling) with the buckets in the continuous unloader. Similarly, the numerical value of 7 as a ratio of weight of a bulk material to weight of suspended free water Wm 20 including the polymer flocculant shown by a weight ratio is also estimated by measuring the quantity of the recess from the drilling amount based on the bucket capacity and drilling depth to estimate the amount of suspended free water Wm generated in the recess. [00591 After the polymer flocculant is added to the suspended free water Wm 25 generated in the recess portion formed in an ore deposited layer inside the hold, the bulk material (Carajas iron ore) around the suspended free water Wm is charged into the suspended free water Wm in an amount corresponding to about 10 times of the suspended free water Wrm and stamped and stirred with the buckets for 30-80 seconds. 30 That is, the unloading operation is continued after the stirring of the bulk material and polymer flocculant is repeated through stirring operation by repeating the switching in the stamping direction with the buckets in the - 21 continuous unloader. As a result, the action of entangling the powdery particles and free water in the suspended free water Wrn with the high molecular polymer is promoted by adding and stirring the polymer flocculant into the suspended free 5 water Wm like in the case of using the grab bucket, and hence particles aggregated with the polymer further form big lamps (agglomerated particles) to make the unloading possible. [0060] Although a great amount of free water has been retained in the bottom of the hold in the past, the residual free water is substantially decreased by the 10 aforementioned treatment. As seen from the above results, since Carajas iron ore itself has a large water content, a large amount of free water is generated during the unloading onto land in the conventional transportation of Carajas iron ore, so that the operation of removing (discharging) the suspended free water Wm is performed intermittently, whereas when the unloading method adapted to the 15 invention is adopted, assuming that the efficiency at the time of generating no free water is 100%, the efficiency of about 93% can be attained though the efficiency is only 65% in the unloading operation associated with the discharging operation. EXAMPLE 6 20 [00611 There will be described below an example of unloading an iron ore with excessive water content due to continuous unloading by means of a continuous unloader in heavy rain. [0062] When the iron ore at a state in FIG. 8(a), wherein the unloading operation is promoted by continuing the unloading with buckets of the continuous 25 unloader as shown in FIG. 7 during a heavy rain, and free water starts to be observed due to the increase of water content in the heavy rain at a stage of arriving at the lower layer portion in a last half of the unloading, is unloaded from the carrying vessel, an acrylamide based polymer flocculant is added in an amount so as to form a concentration of 0.6 mass% to an amount of a suspended 30 free water. The amount of the polymer flocculant to the amount of the suspended free water Wm is determined by a method of measuring a quantity of a recess - 22 from a drilling amount based on a bucket capacity and a drilling depth and estimating an amount of a suspended free water Wm generated in the recess to determine an amount of the polymer flocculant to be added because the suspended free water Wm is generated in the recess after the drilling with the 5 buckets. Similarly, the powdery ore ratio as mentioned later is also determined by estimation from the drilling amount based on the bucket capacity and drilling depth. [0063] After the polymer flocculant is added to the suspended free water Wm 10 generated in the recess portion formed in a deposited layer of the bulk material inside the hold 1, the bulk material around the suspended free water is stamped and charged into the suspended free water with the buckets and then stirred with the buckets. That is, the stirring of the bulk material and the polymer flocculant is 15 repeated by the stirring operation through the repetitive operation in switching in the stamping direction with the buckets of the continuous unloader, and thereafter the unloading operation is continued. As a result, the action of entangling the powdery particles and free water in the suspended free water Wm with the high molecular polymer is 20 promoted by adding and stirring the polymer flocculant into the suspended free water Wm, and hence particles aggregated with the polymer further form big lamps (agglomerated particles) to make the unloading possible. [0064] When the free water is observed on the way of the unloading, a great amount of water is retained on the bottom of the hold in the past, but the residual 25 free water is slightly observed by the above treatment. As seen from the above result, the unloading during heavy rain is refrained in the past, but when the unloading method adapted to the invention is adopted in the unloading onto land, assuming that the efficiency in the ordinary operation is 100%, the efficiency of about 87% can be attained even in the 30 unloading during heavy rain for a long time. 7413794_1 (GHMatters) P100165.AU KIRSTENA - 23 EXAMPLE 7 [00651 There will be described below an example of an iron ore with excessive water content which cannot be modified with only the polymer flocculant (powdery ore ratio of less than 7) due to continuous unloading by 5 means of a continuous unloader in heavy rain. [0066] When the iron ore at a state as shown in FIG. 9(a), wherein the unloading operation is promoted by continuing the unloading with buckets of a continuous unloader as shown in FIG. 9 during heavy rain, and free water starts to be observed due to the increase of water content in heavy rain at a stage of 10 arriving at a lower layer portion in the last half of the unloading, is unloaded from a carrying vessel, an acrylamide based polymer flocculant is added in an amount so as to form a concentration of 0.6 mass% to an amount of a suspended free water and thereafter polyacrylate resin granules as a polymer water-absorbing agent are added to the suspended free water having a powdery ore ratio of less 15 than 7 in an amount of more than 1.0 but not more than 2.0 mass%. The amounts of the polymer water-absorbing agent and polymer flocculant added to the amount of the suspended free water Wm are determined by a method of estimating the amounts of the agents to be added from a drilling amount based on the bucket capacity and drilling depth because the suspended 20 free water Wm is generated in the recess after the drilling with the buckets. [0067] After the polymer flocculant and polymer water-absorbing agent are added to the suspended free water Win generated in the recess portion formed in a deposited layer of the bulk material inside the hold 1, the bulk material around the suspended free water is stamped and charged into the suspended free water 25 with the buckets and then stirred with the buckets. That is, the stirring of the bulk material, the polymer flocculant and the polymer absorbent is repeated by the stirring operation through the repetitive operation in switching in the stamping direction with the buckets of the continuous unloader, and thereafter the unloading operation is continued. 30 As a result, water not modified with only the polymer flocculant is adsorbed with the polymer water-absorbing agent by adding and stirring the polymer water-absorbing agent into the suspended free water Win, and the action - 24 of modifying the powdery particles and free water molecules in the residual suspended free water with the polymer flocculant is promoted to facilitate the unloading. Moreover, similar effects are obtained by the reverse addition of the 5 polymer water-absorbing agent and polymer flocculant or by simultaneous addition thereof. [00681 When the free water is observed on the way of the unloading, a great amount of water is retained on the bottom of the hold in the past, but the residual free water is hardly observed by the above treatment. 10 As seen from the above result, the unloading during heavy rain is refrained in the past, but when the unloading method adapted to the invention is adopted in the unloading onto land, assuming that the efficiency in the ordinary operation is 100%, the efficiency of about 90% can be attained even in the unloading during heavy rain for a long time. 15 EXAMPLE 8 [0069] There will be described below an example of an iron ore with excessive water content which cannot be modified with only the polymer flocculant (powdery ore ratio of less than 7) due to continuous unloading by means of a grab type unloader in heavy rain. 20 [0070] When an iron ore at a state shown in FIG. 10(a), wherein the unloading operation is promoted by continuing the unloading with a grab type unloader as shown in FIG. 10 during heavy rain, and free water starts to be observed due to the increase of water content in heavy rain at a stage of arriving at a lower layer portion in the last half of the unloading is unloaded from a 25 carrying vessel, an acrylamide based polymer flocculant is added in an amount so as to form a concentration of 0.6 mass% to an amount of a suspended free water and thereafter polyacrylate resin granules as a polymer water-absorbing agent are added to the suspended free water having a powdery ore ratio of less than 7 in an amount of more than 1.0 but not more than 2.0 mass%. 30 The amounts of the polymer water-absorbing agent and polymer flocculant added to the amount of the suspended free water Wm are determined by a method of estimating the amounts of the agents to be added from a drilling - 25 amount based on the bucket capacity and drilling depth because the suspended free water Wm is generated in the recess after the drilling with the grab bucket. [00711 After polymer water-absorbing agent and the polymer flocculant are added to the suspended free water Wm generated in the recess portion formed in 5 a deposited layer of the bulk material inside the hold, the bulk material (Carajis iron ore) around the suspended free water Wm is charged into the suspended free water Wm and then stirred with the grab bucket for 30-80 seconds. That is, the unloading operation is performed after the repetitive operation of clutching and open dropping the bulk material (polymer flocculant) 10 with the grab bucket. As a result, water not modified with only the polymer flocculant is adsorbed with the polymer water-absorbing agent by adding and stirring the polymer water-absorbing agent into the suspended free water Win, and the action of modifying the powdery particles and free water in the residual suspended free 15 water with the polymer flocculant is promoted to facilitate the unloading. Moreover, similar effects are obtained by the reverse addition of the polymer water-absorbing agent and polymer flocculant or by simultaneous addition thereof. [0072] When the free water is observed on the way of the unloading, a great 20 amount of water is retained on the bottom of the hold in the past, but the residual free water is slightly observed by the above treatment. As seen from the above result, the unloading during heavy rain is refrained in the past, but when the unloading method adapted to the invention is adopted in the unloading onto land, assuming that the efficiency in the ordinary 25 operation is 100%, the efficiency of about 93% can be attained even in the unloading during heavy rain for a long time. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY [0073] The aforementioned technique of unloading the bulk material according to the invention can be also applied to the unloading operation of bulk 30 materials including gravel, sand, cereal grains and so on in addition to the aforementioned water-containing ores and coal. DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS -26 [0074] 1 hold 2 bulk material 3 water pool 4 recess 5 5 bucket A water adsorbent C iron vessel P powder Wm suspended free water 10 [0075] It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. 7413794_1 (GHMatters) P100165.AU KIRSTENA

Claims

1. A method for unloading a water-containing bulk material by unloading a water-containing bulk material including ore or coal from a cargo ship with a grab bucket of a bridge crane or an unloader or buckets of a 5 continuous unloader, characterized in that when a suspended free water is formed at a state of suspending powdery particles into free water during the unloading operation, a polymer flocculant is added to a site of generating the suspended free water and mixed and agitated with the bulk material of the other sites to produce aggregated particles and agglomerated particles for unloading. 10

2. The method for unloading a water-containing bulk material according to claim 1, wherein the polymer flocculant is added in an amount corresponding to 0.4~1.0 mass% of an amount of the suspended free water.

3. A method for unloading a water-containing bulk material by unloading a water-containing bulk material including ore or coal from a cargo 15 ship with a grab bucket of a bridge crane or an unloader or buckets of a continuous unloader, characterized in that when a suspended free water is formed at a state of suspending powdery particles into free water during the unloading operation, a water adsorbent is added to a site of generating the suspended free water and mixed and agitated with the bulk material of the other sites to perform 20 the unloading.

4. The method for unloading a water-containing bulk material according to claim 3, wherein a polymer water-absorbing agent is used as the water adsorbent.

5. The method for unloading a water-containing bulk material 25 according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the water adsorbent is added in an amount corresponding to more than 0.5 but not more than 3.3 mass% of an amount of the suspended free water.

6. The method for unloading a water-containing bulk material according to any one of claims 3 - 5, wherein the water adsorbent is added in an 30 amount corresponding to 1.0-2.0 mass% of an amount of the suspended free water.

7. A method for unloading a water-containing bulk material by unloading a water-containing bulk material including ore or coal from a cargo 7413794_1 (GHMatters) P100165.AU KIRSTENA - 28 ship with a grab bucket of a bridge crane or an unloader or buckets of a continuous unloader, characterized in that when a suspended free water is formed at a state of suspending powdery particles into free water during the unloading operation, a polymer flocculant and a water adsorbent are added to a site of 5 generating the suspended free water to produce aggregated particles and agglomerated particles by the polymer flocculant, while at least free water in the remaining portion of the suspended free water forming no aggregated particle and agglomerated particle is adsorbed to the water adsorbent to perform the unloading together with the bulk material. 10

8. A method for unloading a water-containing bulk material by unloading a water-containing bulk material including ore or coal from a cargo ship with a grab bucket of a bridge crane or an unloader or buckets of a continuous unloader, characterized in that when a suspended free water is formed at a state of suspending powdery particles into free water during the unloading 15 operation, a water adsorbent is added to a site of generating the suspended free water to reduce at least the free water in the suspended free water and thereafter a polymer flocculant is added to produce aggregated particles and agglomerated particles to perform the unloading together with the bulk material.

9. The method for unloading a water-containing bulk material 20 according to any one of claims 1 - 8, wherein a powdery ore ratio (-) represented by a ratio of weight of bulk material to weight of suspended free water including the polymer flocculant and/or the water adsorbent is not less than 7. 7413794_1 (GHMatters) P100165.AU KIRSTENA