PARTICLE SEPARATION IN A MAGNETICALLY STABILIZED FLUIDIZED-BED

Magnetically stabilized fluidized beds provide the possibility of performing dry particle separation on the basis of density difference. Such separations are generally performed by wet media methods and are expensive and difficult, if not impossible, to perform for the separation of high density materials. An experimental study of this separation potential is described. Encapsulated magnetite comprised the bed material and bed stabilization was provided by a uniform axial magnetic field. Depth of penetration and settling times were measured for objects of different sizes and densities as a function of bed operating conditions. The separation potential for small particles was also investigated. The experimental results show that dry density separation is possible and that it can be monitored by appropriate manipulation of magnetic field intensity, gas velocity and bed stability which provide different levels of resistance to particle penetration and motion in the bed.