Inventors:
Erik K. Walker - Denver CO
International Classification:
B03C 123, B03C 126
Abstract:
Electrodynamic separation of non-ferromagnetic, free-flowing materials, in which at least one component of the material to be processed is electrically conductive, whereby such material is caused to free-fall into a region of space permeated by time and space varying magnetic fields which induce eddy currents in the electrically conductive particles which produce forces on such particles that result in substantially different free-fall trajectory than that of nonconductive particles. Conductive particles are separated on the basis of mass, electrical conductivity and magnetic susceptibility. The time and space varying magnetic fields are generated by a plurality of permanent magnets or electromagnets attached to a rotor assembly such that the polarity of adjacent magnets is caused to reverse so that rotation of the rotor assembly generates magnetic fields which may vary in time and space to the maximum extent.