High capacity separation of metals from auto shredder residue

An aquatic separator system for automobile shredder residue (ASR) pieces comprising a fluidic separator for separating the pieces over time, the fluidic separator comprising:

• a container shaped with an open top mouth larger than a lower outlet and having a paddle therein configured to rotate about a central axis of the container and stir ASR pieces and water so that heavier pieces of specific gravity greater than that of water tend to sink and lighter pieces of specific gravity less than that of water tend to float, the lower outlet being adapted for egress of ASR pieces which are primarily the heavier pieces and the container having an upper outlet for egress of ASR pieces which are primarily the lighter pieces;
• dewatering and filtering devices positioned to receive the ASR pieces egressed from the upper outlet and remove water and metallic pieces therefrom, and a system to recycle water recovered from the ASR pieces and return the water to the container;
• a first fluid inlet in a side wall of the container which injects water to induce a rotational flow within the container around the central axis in the same direction as rotation of the paddle and facilitates separation of the heavier and lighter pieces;
• a lower fluid inlet through the lower outlet of the container, and wherein the container receives a total water flow in, and at least 60% of the total water flow into the container enters through the first fluid inlet;
• a manifold adapted to contain water into which the lower outlet opens and having an upper elevation that coincides approximately with an upper elevation of the container, and wherein water fills the container and manifold to approximately the same level and results in an equilibrium of static fluid pressure within the container and manifold, such that water supplied to the manifold in excess of the fluid level within the container creates a differential head and forces water through the lower fluid inlet;
• an outlet conveyor within the manifold a lower end of which is located directly underneath the lower outlet of the container and an upper end which projects out of an open top end of the manifold for transporting the heavier pieces that egress through the lower outlet, wherein the heavier pieces are primarily metallic pieces;
• and
• a series of secondary filters to which the conveyor directs pieces including at least one magnetic separator and at least one eddy current separator that separate metallic pieces from other pieces.

An aquatic separator system for automobile shredder residue (ASR) pieces comprising a fluidic separator for separating the pieces over time, the fluidic separator comprising:

• a container shaped with an open top mouth larger than a lower outlet and having a paddle therein adapted to rotate about a central axis of the container and stir ASR pieces and water so that heavier pieces of specific gravity greater than that of water tend to sink and lighter pieces of specific gravity less than that of water tend to float, the lower outlet being adapted for egress of ASR pieces which are primarily the heavier pieces and the container having an upper outlet for egress of ASR pieces which are primarily the lighter pieces, wherein the heavier pieces are primarily metallic pieces, wherein the paddle is suspended within the container and has vanes that extend outward into proximity with but spaced from the container, and the vanes mimic the shape of the container with a straight truncated lower edge located just above the lower outlet, an angled outer edge extending upward, and a vertical outer edge that extends into an upper tubular section of the container which is above the upper outlet;
• and
• first dewatering devices positioned to receive the ASR pieces egressed from the upper outlet, and filtering devices positioned to receive the ASR pieces after the first dewatering devices including a magnetic separator for recovering ASR pieces that are primarily of a magnetic ferrous metal;
• second dewatering devices positioned to receive the ASR pieces egressed from the lower outlet, and filtering devices positioned to receive the ASR pieces after the second dewatering devices including a magnetic separator for recovering ASR pieces that are primarily of a magnetic ferrous metal and an eddy current separator for recovering ASR pieces that are primarily of a non-magnetic metal;
• an upper inlet channel for delivering the ASR pieces and water directly into the top mouth of the container;
• a first fluid inlet in a side wall of the container which injects water through a side wall of the container;
• and
• a lower fluid inlet through the lower outlet of the container, and wherein the container receives a total water flow in, and less than 10% of the total water flow into the container enters through the upper inlet channel.