US 4,702,825 A · Superconductor high gradient magnetic separator

Abstract

A high gradient magnet is disclosed having a coil of superconducting material immersed in liquid helium in a toroidal shaped liquid helium vessel, supported in axial spaced concentric relation to a toroidal shaped liquid nitrogen vessel which forms one end of a toroidal heat shield made of high heat conductive material in which the liquid helium chamber is supported by a first coil support ring and a second coil support ring. The heat shield and liquid helium chamber are in turn supported in a toroidal shaped vacuum chamber which is in turn supported in a heavy iron cylindrical enclosure closed at the ends and having an opening through the center of its ends. A slurry containing iron particles may pass through the opening in the center whereby the iron particles from the slurry are retained by a matrix. The first coil support ring has two ends supported on the vacuum vessel and an intermediate part. The second coil support ring has two ends supported on the liquid helium chamber and an intermediate part connected to the intermediate part of the first coil support ring so that the liquid helium vessel is supported in spaced relation to the heat shield and in spaced relation to the liquid nitrogen vessel. A bipolar power supply is provided for the superconductor magnet whereby the magnet is magnetized and demagnetized in fast ramp fashion.

Claims20

Dependent claims

In a high gradient superconductor magnet separator comprising,

a hollow cylindrical enclosure made of ferrous material and having an axially disposed flow passage therethrough,
a toroidal shaped vacuum vessel in said cylindrical enclosure,
a toroidal shaped liquid nitrogen vessel in said vacuum vessel,
a toroidal shaped liquid helium vessel in said vacuum vessel,
said toroidal shaped liquid helium vessel being disposed concentrically to and above said liquid nitrogen vessel and spaced therefrom,
a coil made of superconducting material in said liquid helium vessel,
an inner coil support ring in said vacuum vessel and concentric to said flow passage,
said inner coil support ring having a lower end supported on said vacuum vessel and an upper end engaging said vacuum vessel,
an outer coil support ring,
said outer coil support ring having an upper end attached to said liquid helium vessel and a lower end attached to the liquid helium vessel and an intermediate part attached to an intermediate part of said inner coil support ring at a position spaced from said upper and lower ends of said inner coil support ring.

7 more elements

In combination a magnetic separator including a superconductor coil (34) and a bi-polar control circuit comprising,

a circuit breaker (A),
a three-phase transformer (B),
a rectifier (C),
a trigger circuit (D),
a regulator (E),
and a current transformer (F),
said three phase transformer (B) having three phase primary windings connected together in Y-relation,
first three-phase secondary windings (BS1) connected together in delta relation,
second three-phase secondary windings (BS2) connected together in delta relation,
said rectifier (C) comprising six first silicon control rectifiers and six second silicon control rectifiers,
said first six silicon control rectifiers being connected to form a first full wave rectifier circuit (C1),
said second silicon control rectifiers being connected together to form a second full wave rectifier circuit (C2),
an interphase transformer (G),
said interphase transformer (G) having a winding having a first end, a second end and an intermediate part,
said first full wave rectifier circuit (C1) and said second full wave rectifier circuit (C2) being connected respectively to the end terminals of said interphase transformer (G),
said intermediate part of said interphase transformer (G) being connected to said coil (34),
said first full wave rectifier circuit (C1) connecting said first secondary windings (BS1) through said interphase transformer to said coil (34),
said second full wave rectifier (C2) connecting said second secondary windings (BS2) through said interphase transformer to said coil (34),
over voltage protection means (H) connected in parallel with said coil (34),
said current transformer (F) being connected in series with said coil (34),
said trigger circuit comprising first trigger means and second trigger means,
said first trigger means being connected to said SCR's of said first full wave rectifier circuit (C1),
said second trigger means being connected to said second full wave rectifier circuit (C2),
switching means (S2) for connecting said regulator (E) to said first trigger means and to said second trigger means during a charge cycle of said coil,
second switching means to connect said switching means to said first trigger means and said second trigger means during a discharge cycle of said coil (34),
current feedback means including said current transformer (F) connected to said regulator (E) for controlling said rectifier (C) and thereby regulating the current in said coil (34) and,
voltage monitor means (V) connected in parallel with said coil (34) and connected to said regulator (E) for controlling the voltage to said coil (34).

24 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Superconductor high gradient magnetic separator

Life of this patent

Superconductor high gradient magnetic separator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20