Eddy Current Separator: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Eddy Current Separator Magnet and Splitter.jpg|350px| | An [[Eddy Current Separator]] (ECS) is a machine that is used to separate and recover [[Non-Ferrous Metal|non-ferrous metals]] such as aluminium, copper and brass from non-metallic material in a [[Waste|waste]] stream<ref name="ref1">[https://www.okay.co.uk/project/ecs/ Eddy Current Separators: [[OKAY Engineering]]]</ref>. | ||
An [[Eddy Current Separator]] (ECS) is a machine that is used to separate and recover non-ferrous metals such as aluminium, copper and brass from non-metallic material in a waste stream<ref name="ref1" | [[Category:Technologies & Solutions]] | ||
[[File:Eddy Current Separator Magnet and Splitter.jpg|350px|left|Eddy Current Separator Magnet Rotor and Splitter. Image: OKAY Engineering.]]__TOC__ | |||
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==Overview== | |||
An [[Eddy Current Separator]] (ECS) is a machine that is used to separate and recover [[Non-Ferrous Metal|non-ferrous metals]] such as aluminium, copper and brass from non-metallic material in a [[Waste|waste]] stream<ref name="ref1" />. Material is fed onto the conveyor of the separator, which moves it across the magnetic rotor, situated underneath, to result in separation. The two resultant streams discharge into different bins/compartments with the aid of the splitter which divides the [[Non-Ferrous Metal|non-ferrous metal]] from the non-metallic [[Waste|waste]] such as [[Paper|paper]], [[Plastic|plastic]], [[Wood|wood]] or [[Automotive Shredder Residue|automotive shredder residue]] (known as shredder [[Fluff|fluff]])<ref name="ref2">[https://www.recyclingtoday.com/article/magnetic-equipment-guide----eddy-current-separators/ Magnetic Equipment Guide - Eddy Current Separators]</ref>. This process is usually employed after magnetic separation has removed the bulk ferrous fraction from a scrap material stream<ref name="ref3">[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S089268751830582X Eddy Current Separation]</ref>. | |||
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The key component is the magnetic rotor, which is a series of permanent rare earth magnets mounted on a support plate attached to a shaft. The magnetic rotor is surrounded by, but not attached to, a non-metallic shell which supports the conveyor belt. This allows the rotor to spin independently and at a much higher speed than the non-metallic shell and belt<ref name="ref2" />. | The key component is the magnetic rotor, which is a series of permanent rare earth magnets mounted on a support plate attached to a shaft. The magnetic rotor is surrounded by, but not attached to, a non-metallic shell which supports the conveyor belt. This allows the rotor to spin independently and at a much higher speed than the non-metallic shell and belt<ref name="ref2" />. | ||
==Benefits== | ==Stated Benefits== | ||
*Very high hit rates | *Very high hit rates | ||
*Very high purity rates | *Very high purity rates | ||
*Compact and flexible | *Compact and flexible | ||
*Removes ranging sizes of non-ferrous | *Removes ranging sizes of [[Non-Ferrous Metal|non-ferrous metals]]<ref name="ref1" /> | ||
==The Process== | ==The Process== | ||
{| | {| | ||
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|rowspan=4|[[File:Eddy Current Separator Process.png|450px|right|Eddy Current Separator Diagram. All Rights Reserved.]]<br clear=all>''Schematic Diagram of an Eddy Current Separator<ref name="ref3" />''|| 1. The waste stream is fed onto the conveyor belt and is transported towards the magnetic rotor end. | |rowspan=4|[[File:Eddy Current Separator Process.png|450px|right|Eddy Current Separator Diagram. All Rights Reserved.]]<br clear=all>''Schematic Diagram of an Eddy Current Separator<ref name="ref3" />''|| 1. The [[Waste|waste]] stream is fed onto the conveyor belt and is transported towards the magnetic rotor end. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2. When a piece of non-ferrous metal passes over the magnetic rotor, the magnets inside the shell rotate past the metal at high speed which forms eddy currents to create a magnetic field around the piece of metal. | | 2. When a piece of [[Non-Ferrous Metal|non-ferrous metal]] passes over the magnetic rotor, the magnets inside the shell rotate past the metal at high speed which forms eddy currents to create a magnetic field around the piece of [[Metal|metal]]. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 3. The polarity of that magnetic field is the same as the rotating magnet, causing the non-ferrous metal to be repelled away from the magnet. | | 3. The polarity of that magnetic field is the same as the rotating magnet, causing [[Non-Ferrous Metal|the non-ferrous metal]] to be repelled away from the magnet. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 4. This repulsion makes the trajectory of the non-ferrous metal greater than that of the non-metallic, allowing the two material streams to be separated<ref name="ref2" />. | | 4. This repulsion makes the trajectory of [[Non-Ferrous Metal|the non-ferrous metal]] greater than that of the non-metallic, allowing the two material streams to be separated<ref name="ref2" />. | ||
|} | |} | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
Latest revision as of 16:52, 2 November 2021
An Eddy Current Separator (ECS) is a machine that is used to separate and recover non-ferrous metals such as aluminium, copper and brass from non-metallic material in a waste stream[1].
Overview
An Eddy Current Separator (ECS) is a machine that is used to separate and recover non-ferrous metals such as aluminium, copper and brass from non-metallic material in a waste stream[1]. Material is fed onto the conveyor of the separator, which moves it across the magnetic rotor, situated underneath, to result in separation. The two resultant streams discharge into different bins/compartments with the aid of the splitter which divides the non-ferrous metal from the non-metallic waste such as paper, plastic, wood or automotive shredder residue (known as shredder fluff)[2]. This process is usually employed after magnetic separation has removed the bulk ferrous fraction from a scrap material stream[3].
The Magnet Rotor
The key component is the magnetic rotor, which is a series of permanent rare earth magnets mounted on a support plate attached to a shaft. The magnetic rotor is surrounded by, but not attached to, a non-metallic shell which supports the conveyor belt. This allows the rotor to spin independently and at a much higher speed than the non-metallic shell and belt[2].
Stated Benefits
- Very high hit rates
- Very high purity rates
- Compact and flexible
- Removes ranging sizes of non-ferrous metals[1]
The Process
 Schematic Diagram of an Eddy Current Separator[3] |
1. The waste stream is fed onto the conveyor belt and is transported towards the magnetic rotor end. |
| 2. When a piece of non-ferrous metal passes over the magnetic rotor, the magnets inside the shell rotate past the metal at high speed which forms eddy currents to create a magnetic field around the piece of metal. | |
| 3. The polarity of that magnetic field is the same as the rotating magnet, causing the non-ferrous metal to be repelled away from the magnet. | |
| 4. This repulsion makes the trajectory of the non-ferrous metal greater than that of the non-metallic, allowing the two material streams to be separated[2]. |