Can Eddy Current Separators Revolutionize Recycling and Waste Management?

[owen2612]

Hello
I am a graduate Mechanical Design Engineer who was recently offered a job (through a graduate scheme) at a company that develops Recycling and waste management systems. As part of this I have to design and develop an new eddy current separation system so that the company can build the product in-house.

I wanted to ask the following questions :

where would the best place to look for information on Eddy current separation technology?

How effective are current systems and can they feasibly be improved on?

Do certain non-ferrous metals have a higher capability of been pushed further forward.

Do large bits of waste get thrown further than small bits of waste?

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I'm sorry you are not finding help at the moment. Is there any additional information you can share with us?

 

[Babadag]

I saw this kind of separation only on a belt conveyor for coal handling in a fossil power station.
See [for instance]:
http://www.sgt-promati.com/Nederlands/Downloads/Pdf/Non-ferro/SB500%20UK4%20ECS%20ENGLISH.pdf

 

[Baluncore]

where would the best place to look for information on Eddy current separation technology?

Search the web and the trade specific equipment suppliers.

How effective are current systems and can they feasibly be improved on?

Some are good and some can be improved. That is the way of the world. There is no simple answer.
The characteristics of the shredder before the separator needs to be matched to the separator. You must find the lowest cost solution by adjusting both systems to work together.

Do certain non-ferrous metals have a higher capability of been pushed further forward.

Yes, the electrical conductivity, magnetic properties and density are all important.

Do large bits of waste get thrown further than small bits of waste?

Mass rises as the cube of the dimension, surface area as the square. The eddy currents are induced only in the surface area. The material, shape and orientation have a big effect on the trajectory.