Rotary particle separator

A process of separating a material into component large particles and small particles comprising:

• adding the material to a feed bin of a rotary particle separator comprising:
• a rotary inclined shaft having a first end and a second end;
• the feed bin coupled to the first end of such shaft and having a bottom surface, the bottom surface defining a hole to gravity feed the material from said bin along said shaft towards the second end;
• a plurality of annulae spaced along said shaft, each of said plurality of annulae having a central aperture encompassed by a ring defining an outer diameter, and having an arm mechanically coupling each of said annulae to said shaft;
• at least one paddle interspersed between two adjacent annulae of said plurality of annulae and rotating about said shaft;
• and a screen mesh having a mesh size, said screen mesh surrounding said plurality of annulae such that the small particulate has a small particle dimension less than the mesh size so as to pass through said mesh and leaving the larger particulate with a large particulate dimension larger than the mesh size within said mesh;
• rotating said shaft
• collecting the small particles external to said mesh and the large particles proximal to the second end of said shaft to separate the material wherein the process is independent of a pressurized gas stream contacting the material.