Scrap separation system and device

A system for separating scrap metal from slag, sands and contaminants, the system comprising:

• a magnetic separation unit configured to accept scrap metal comprising slag, sands and other contaminants from a transport device and separate the scrap metal into ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal comprising slag, sands and other contaminants;
• and
• a scrap separation device which accepts either the ferrous or non-ferrous scrap metal comprising slag, sands and other contaminants from the magnetic separation unit, the device comprising:
• an inner cylinder having a first end for receiving a scrap metal comprising slag, sands and contaminants and a second end for dispatching the scrap metal which is substantially cleaned of the slag, sands and contaminants, wherein a portion of the inner cylinder at or near the second end comprises apertures therethrough sized to pass a portion of the slag, sands and contaminants and retain the scrap metal,
• an outer cylinder concentric with the inner cylinder, the outer cylinder having a first end and a second end, wherein the outer cylinder collects the slag, sands and contaminants passed through the apertures in the inner cylinder,
• a plurality of paddles positioned on an inner surface of the inner cylinder, wherein the paddles placed at or near the first and second ends of the inner cylinder are angled to urge the scrap metal longitudinally from the first end toward the second end of the inner cylinder, and the paddles in a middle region of the inner cylinder are designed to increase the residence time of the scrap metal in the middle region relative to the residence time of the scrap metal in the first and second ends and cause the scrap metal to be lifted and dropped during rotation of the inner cylinder;
• at least one helical vane positioned substantially between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder to move the collected slag, sands and contaminants longitudinally through the outer cylinder;
• at least one heater positioned to heat an outer surface of the outer cylinder;
• a base for supporting the inner and outer cylinders horizontally along their longitudinal axes;
• and
• a means for rotating the inner and outer cylinders along their longitudinal axes.

A method for removing slag, sands, and other contaminates from a scrap metal feed, the method comprising:

• separating a dirty scrap metal feed into a ferrous component comprising slag, sands and contaminants and non-ferrous component;
• loading the ferrous component into a scrap separation device to produce a feed of scrap metal substantially cleaned of slag, sands, or other contaminants and a feed of slag, sands, or other contaminants, wherein the scrap separation device comprises:
• an inner cylinder having a first end for receiving the ferrous component and a second end for dispatching the feed of scrap metal substantially cleaned of slag, sands, or other contaminants, wherein a portion of the inner cylinder at or near the second end comprises apertures therethrough sized to pass a portion of the slag, sands and contaminants and retain the ferrous component,
• an outer cylinder concentric with the inner cylinder, the outer cylinder having a first end and a second end, wherein the outer cylinder collects the slag, sands and contaminants passed through the apertures in the inner cylinder,
• a plurality of paddles positioned on an inner surface of the inner cylinder, wherein the paddles placed at or near the first and second ends of the inner cylinder are angled to urge the scrap metal longitudinally from the first end toward the second end of the inner cylinder, and the paddles in a middle region of the inner cylinder are designed to increase the residence time of the scrap metal in the middle region relative to the residence time of the scrap metal in the first and second ends and cause the scrap metal to be lifted and dropped during rotation of the inner cylinder;
• at least one helical vane positioned substantially between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder to move the collected slag, sands and contaminants longitudinally through the outer cylinder;
• at least one heater positioned to heat an outer surface of the outer cylinder;
• a base for supporting the inner and outer cylinders horizontally along their longitudinal axes;
• and
• a means for rotating the inner and outer cylinders along their longitudinal axes;
• collecting the feed of scrap metal substantially cleaned of slag, sands, or other contaminants;
• and
• collecting the feed of slag, sands, or other contaminants.