Magneto-plasma separator and method for separation

摘要

A plasma separator and mass filter system is described. In some aspects the system is designed and configured to cause a plasma in a vacuum chamber and to move charged particles therein axially and circumferentially towards one or more sets of collectors. Waste material is ejected from the system while the one or more collectors yield one or more corresponding products.

主权项

1. A method for refining a feed material comprising an ore product in a plasma chamber, comprising: accelerating charged particles in said at least partially ionized feed material;
heating said feed material in a plasma torch coupled to an inlet of said chamber so as to at least partially ionize the feed material in an ionization region as it enters the chamber; accelerating charged particles in said at least partially ionized feed material; directing said accelerated charged particles between a set of magnetic field coils disposed at the discharge end of said ionization region and into said chamber to form a plasma pinch between said magnetic field coils; directing said pinched accelerated charged particles through a magnetic field that is substantially transverse to a general direction of motion of said particles so as to separate different species of said charged particles from one another using Lorentz force separation; collecting a select one of said species of charged particles on a collector placed at a location chosen in said plasma chamber to intercept said select species corresponding to its mass and charge; discharging other species of charged constituents from said plasma chamber; and generating a purified product from said ore product.