Microwave applicator

摘要

A microwave radiation applicator for exposing mined material to microwave radiation is disclosed. The applicator includes side walls 3 and end walls 5 that define a chamber. One end wall has an opening that forms an inlet for mined material to be supplied to the chamber and the other end wall has an opening that defines an outlet for mined material to be discharged from the chamber. The side walls define a pentagon in transverse cross-section.

主权项

1. An apparatus for sorting mined material that includes:
(a) a microwave radiation generator for generating microwave energy; (b) a microwave radiation applicator for heating mined material spaced away from the microwave radiation generator, the applicator including side walls and end walls that define a chamber, with one end wall having an opening that forms an inlet for mined material to be supplied to the chamber and the other end wall having an opening that defines an outlet for mined material to be discharged from the chamber, with the side walls defining a pentagon in transverse cross-section, the applicator including at least one aperture in the side walls to allow transmission of microwave radiation into the chamber and a waveguide for transmitting microwave radiation from the microwave radiation generator to the aperture; (c) a materials handling arrangement for transporting fragments of mined material through the chamber via the inlet in one end wall and the outlet in the other end wall, (d) a detector for detecting fragments of mined material after exposure to microwave radiation, (e) a means for analysing data from the detector and assessing one or more than one characteristic of fragments, and (f) a means for separating the fragments on the basis of the analysis.