Method and apparatus for the separation of magnetizable particles from a finely-granular solid suspended in a carrier medium by means of intense field-magnet separation

摘要

Magnetizable particles are separated from a sludge which includes fine-grained particles and the magnetizable particles suspended in a carrier by creating a laminar flow of the sludge over a surface which is disposed at an angle to the horizontal. The surface is included in a magnetic system which has a plurality of supra-conducting magnets with coils which are energizable to provide alternate north and south poles longitudinally and transversely of the surface. The supra-conducting magnets each have an end adjacent the surface and short-circuited opposite ends to amplify the magnetic force in the direction of the surface. Magnetic particles with greater susceptibility adhere to the surface near the end of the surface which receives the laminar flow and particles with lesser susceptibilities adhere to the surface at respective distances from that end so that the particles are classified with respect to magnetic susceptibility when they are removed by a plurality of scrapers which travel transversely of the surface. Advantageously, the scrapers are formed as an endless belt which carries a plurality of scraper blades.