Exportech Company, Inc.

Gulf Research & Development Company

Exprotech Company, Inc.

Robin R Oder

Russell E Jamison

Shirley C Tsai

Richard H Graham

Richard S Weinstein

Sheng-Ming B Chi

An apparatus and method for continuous separation of magnetic particles from non-magnetic fluids including particular rods, magnetic fields and flow arrangements.

Apparatus and method for continuous separation of magnetic particles from non-magnetic fluids

A magnetic separator vessel () for separating magnetic particles from non-magnetic fluid includes a separation chamber having an interior and exterior wall, a top and bottom portion; a magnet () having first and second poles () positioned adjacent to the exterior wall, wherein the first pole is substantially diametrically opposed to the second pole; a inlet port () is directed into the top portion of the separation chamber, wherein the inlet port () is positioned adjacent to one of the first and second poles (), wherein the inlet port () is adapted to transfer a mixture into the separation chamber; an underflow port () in communication with the bottom portion, wherein the underflow port () is adapted to receive the magnetic particles; and an overflow port () in communication with the separation chamber, wherein the overflow port () is adapted to receive the non-magnetic fluid.

An improved air jig apparatus and method is disclosed in which a dry magnetic separator is used to separate paramagnetic and ferromagnetic minerals from the dust component of coal cleaned with the air jig. The cleaned product of the dry magnetic separator is combined with the cleaned product of the air jig thereby improving both the quality and the quantity of the unmodified air jig product. The dry magnetic separator may be of a variety of types including but not limited to separators made from permanent magnets, electromagnets, and superconducting magnets, each of which may also employ triboelectric and/or aerodynamic means to enhance the separation of the dust material.

Air jig for separation of minerals from coal

A continuous magnetic separator and process for separating a slurry comprising magnetic particles into a clarified stream and a thickened stream. The separator has a container with a slurry inlet, an overflow outlet for the discharge of the clarified slurry stream, and an underflow outlet for the discharge of a thickened slurry stream. Magnetic particles in the slurry are attracted to, and slide down, magnetic rods within the container. The slurry is thus separated into magnetic concentrate and clarified slurry. Flow control means can be used to control the ratio of the rate of magnetic concentrate to the rate of clarified slurry. Feed control means can be used to control the rate of slurry feed to the slurry inlet.

Continuous magnetic separator and process

An apparatus for sorting particles composed of a mixture of particles with differing physical and chemical characteristics. The apparatus includes a comminutor, a mechanism for removing particles from the inside of the comminutor which are intermediate in size between the feed to the comminutor and the product of comminution, a mechanism for either discharging particles taken from the comminutor to a reject stream or providing them to a size classification apparatus such as screening, a mechanism for returning the oversize particles to the comminutor or for discharging them to the reject stream, an electric mechanism for separating particles with an electrical force disposed adjacent to a magnet mechanism, a mechanism for providing the particles to the magnet mechanism and the electric mechanism and for providing triboelectric and capacitive charges to the particles, and a mechanism for returning one of the products of electric and magnetic separation to the comminutor while discharging the other to the reject stream. A method for sorting particles composed of a mixture of particles with differing physical and chemical characteristics.

Method and apparatus for separating material

An apparatus for sorting particles composed of a mixture of particles with differing physical and chemical characteristics. The apparatus includes a comminutor or a pulverizer for reducing the size of the particles. The apparatus includes a mechanism for separating undesired material from desired material.

An apparatus for sorting particles. The apparatus includes a magnet mechanism for separating the particles with a magnetic force. The apparatus includes an electric mechanism for separating particles with an electrical force disposed adjacent to the magnet mechanism. The apparatus includes a mechanism for providing the particles to the magnet mechanism and the electric mechanism. The providing mechanism is engaged with the magnet mechanism and the electric mechanism. A method for sorting particles. The method includes the steps of providing the particles to a magnet mechanism and electric mechanism disposed adjacent to the magnet mechanism. Then there is the step of separating the particles with the magnetic force from the magnet mechanism and the electric force from the electric mechanism.

Method and apparatus for sorting particles with electric and magnetic forces

A method and apparatus for breaking emulsions using magnetic fields to promote magnetostatic coalescence. The method includes use of a magnetic additive soluble or dispersable in the dispersed phase of the emulsion and a second additive for promoting coalescence of the dispersed phase droplets when acted on by a magnetic field. The apparatus includes a continuously operating high gradient magnetic coalescer having a plurality of magnetic elements therein oriented vertically which are magnetized transverse to their lengths for treating emulsions containing large amounts of internal phase. The magnetized elements serve to attract droplets of the internal phase to their surfaces, where they coalesce under magnetic compression force, and to provide a pathway for drainage of the coalesced droplets from the separator. Additionally the apparatus includes a magnetic field assisted settler for treating emulsions with intermediate water content. The apparatus further includes magnetic filters for removing the final amounts of the internal phase and for recovering the magnetic additives for reuse in the process.

Method and apparatus for breaking emulsions of immiscible liquids by

An improved method of dry magnetic separation for separating materials of differing types and levels of magnetism from a raw sample is disclosed. The method includes precleaning the raw sample by first extracting a strongly magnetic fraction from a feebly magnetic fraction, followed by additional processing steps for the extraction of the feebly magnetic fraction and the collection of refined sampels for each fraction so separated. The recovered fractions are then analyzed for magnetic susceptibilities and are correlated to at least one identifying physical and/or chemcial characteristic in order to determine which fraction or fractions are to be recovered for further processing. Following that determination, the recovered fraction or fractions are processed for an additional magnetic separation step in order to yield a clean fraction.

Method of magnetic separation and apparatus therefore

The use of electrostatic demulsification methods to separate fine particulates of differing surface characteristics is disclosed. In one example, particles of hydrophobic coal and hydrophilic kaolin clay, each of nominal 3.5 micron mass mean particle diameter, were separated from a variety of stable water-in-oil emulsions. 50/50 blends of coal of 4% ash and kaolin clay of 86.5% ash were used in the experiments. A variety of oils, water concentrations, solids concentrations, and emulsifiers have been used in this work. Externally applied electrostatic fields up to 1.2 kV/cm were used. Greater than 90% rejection of kaolin particles into the separated water phase was achieved with virtually complete recovery of the coal particles uniformly suspended in the oil phase. Under conditions resulting in the most efficient separation, we have observed that the coalesced water phase appeared as intertwined cylindrical tubes extending between electrodes, as opposed to nonconnected and chained droplets which have been reported by others. The fine kaolin particulates were observed to be water-encased while most coal particles remained dispersed in the oil continuum.

Particulate separations by electrostatic coalescence

A method and apparatus for magnetically beneficiating a raw sample, such as coal or lunar soil is disclosed. The beneficiation is achieved using a novel of fractionating the sample into components of different magnetic susceptibilities. The results of the fractionation may be used to determine the type of magnet to be employed for large scale operations, as well as the appropriate fraction or fractions to be recovered for further processing.

An apparatus for magnetically separating and collecting particulate matter fractions of a raw sample according to relative magnetic susceptibilities of each fraction so collected is disclosed. The separation apparatus includes a splitter which is used in conjunction with a magnetic separator for achieving the desired fractionation.

A process is taught for preparing a coal substitute of low ash level from a composite of coal, mineral matter and pyritic sulfur comprising comminuting the coal composite in an aqueous medium to a size range which promotes the liberation of the mineral matter; subjecting the resulting slurry to fines agglomeration in the presence of a water-insoluble bridging organic liquid; separating the agglomerates from the liquid phase containing the bulk of the mineral matter and a portion of the pyritic sulfur; treating the coal fines by stripping the organic liquid from the fines surface; and redispersing the fines in an aqueous medium having a surface active agent to yield a high solids coal fines slurry so to permit magnetic separation of residual pyritic sulfur and other magnetic mineral matter.

Preparation of coal substitute of low ash and sulfur

In the underground gasification of a swelling coal the high gas-flow link between the injection and the production wells needed for the gasification process is produced by reverse combustion using air heated to a temperature below the softening point of the coal. The heated air pretreats and conditions the coal proximate to the link under formation by increasing its permeability and reducing its swelling properties. Improved combustion and suppression of plugging results in the subsequent gasification stage.

Subterranean gasification of bituminous coal

In the underground gasification of a swelling coal the high gas-flow link between the injection and the production wells is produced by introducing hot air into the injection well at a pressure sufficient to fracture the coal. The bulk permeability of the coal proximate to the link is increased and the plugging of the link during the subsequent in situ combustion and gasification procedure is suppressed by continuing the injection of the hot air, heated to a temperature below the softening point of the coal, into the injection well, through the link to the production well without combustion of the coal.

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Export, PA, United States of America

Robin R Oder