Apparatus and process for the separation of particles of different density with magnetic fluids
AssigneeUnion Carbide Corporation
InventorsHomer Fay, Jean Marie Quets, Henri Hatwell
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Abstract
Separation of a mixture of non-magnetic particles on the basis of their different densities is accomplished by levitation in a magnetic fluid using a multiplicity of magnetic gaps created by a grid of magnetic poles oriented with respect to each other such that the polarity of the magnetic field generated in each gap is opposite to that of each adjacent gap.
Claims10
Process for separating non-magnetic particles on the basis of their different densities which comprises providing a magnetic fluid comprising a colloidal suspension of superparamagnetic material in a liquid medium;
- generating in said magnetic fluid a non-uniform magnetic field gradient, said gradient producing in said magnetic fluid a vertical force component in the direction opposite to gravity, said vertical force component decreasing in magnitude in the direction opposite to gravity and having critical points below which the contours of constant force thereof are discontinuous and above which said contours of constant force are continuous;
- introducing into said magnetic fluid having the said non-uniform magnetic field gradient generated therein a mixture of at least two solid non-magnetic particles having densities which are different and greater than the actual density of the magnetic fluid, the level of introduction of said particle mixture being not lower than the said critical points in said fluid, whereby the particles segregate themselves in different zones of said magnetic fluid;
- and recovering at least some of the thus segregated particles.
Apparatus for separating particles on the basis of their density which comprises a magnetic fluid comprising a colloidal suspension of superparamagnetic material in a liquid medium;
- means for generating in said magnetic fluid a non-uniform mangetic field gradient, said gradient producing in said magnetic fluid a vertical force component in the direction opposite to gravity, said vertical force component decreasing in magnitude in the direction opposite to gravity and having critical points below which the contours of constant force thereof are discontinuous and above which said contours of constant force are continuous;
- means for introducing into said magnetic fluid a mixture of at least two solid non-magnetic particles having densities which are different and greater than the actual density of the magnetic fluid, the level of introduction of said particle mixture being not lower than the said critical points in said fluid;
- and means for recovering at least some of the segregated particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.