Dielectric particle sorting apparatus

An apparatus for sorting dielectric powders, the apparatus comprising:

• a vertically standing chamber filled with air;
• a lower electrode received in an inner space of the chamber;
• an upper electrode received in the inner space of the chamber and spaced apart from the lower electrode and disposed at an upper end of the inner space of the chamber;
• a first separation layer positioned between the upper electrode and the lower electrode received in the inner space of the chamber, wherein the first separation layer only partially overlaps each of the upper electrode and the lower electrode vertically;
• and
• a power applying means configured to apply a bipolar alternating current (+V and −V) to the lower electrode and the upper electrode so that an electric field of the alternating current is generated between the lower electrode and the upper electrode,
• wherein the apparatus is further configured to control a frequency of the alternating current to secure sufficient upward travel of the dielectric powders for height-based sorting,
• wherein the dielectric powders are positioned between the lower electrode and the first separation layer, and
• wherein the dielectric powders are charged dielectric powders,
• wherein the dielectric powders are sorted based on a sorting criterion including a diameter, a weight, a density, a permittivity, or a surface area of a powder particle, and
• wherein the apparatus is configured to control each of a magnitude of the voltage and a frequency of the alternating current (AC), based on the sorting criterion.