ElectriMag/ParaMag Separators
ParaMag Separator
The ParaMag separator is a two-stage, continuously operating dry magnetic separator whose advanced design allows it to be scalable to throughputs of hundreds of tons per hour. The first stage belt separator rejects strongly magnetic material. The product is fed to the second stage ParaTrap separator which removes very feebly magnetic particles. The combined apparatus produces a cleaned product and a refuse fraction of concentrated matter for discarding. Each stage can be used independently.
The ParaMag separator does not use additives or water and produces a granular waste stream. Potential markets for the ParaMag separator include dry cleaning of coal and other minerals as part of a MagMill installation and as a stand-alone separator for recovery of coal and mineral values in arid environments.
ElectriMag Separator
The ElectriMag belt Separator (US patent 6,540,088) combines triboelectric surface characteristics with bulk magnetic properties for separation of particles which cannot be separated by either method alone or for tailoring particle properties. The triboelectric and magnetic forces can be made comparable in the ElectriMag™ Separator, making it possible to closely couple the effects of the two force fields. When the proper voltage is applied, the electric field pulls weakly magnetic and positively charged particles away from the magnet located at the end of the belt. This has the effect of creating three products - clean, middling, and refuse - as opposed to only clean and refuse products from the magnetic separator operating without the electrode.
Applications for the ElectriMag™ are very diverse and include separation of unburned carbon and recovery of magnetite from fly ash, reduction of "country rock" from coarse mineral values prior to haulage in underground mining, and preparation of high purity silicon from alluvial sands for furnace applications.