Gregory A Beck

US Patent:

61123994, Sep 5, 2000

Filed:

May 14, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/849232

Inventors:

Sibley C. Burnett - Cardiff CA
L. Cullen Andrews - San Diego CA
Gregory S. Beck - Anaheim CA
R. Lewis Creedon - Port Townsend WA
John R. Purcell - San Diego CA

Assignee:

Outokumpu OYJ - Espoo

International Classification:

H01L 3924

US Classification:

29599

Abstract:

A method of designing and manufacturing a magnetic separation apparatus. Past separators generally had poor power efficiency, poor throughput performance, and/or were bulky. Designing the magnetic separator of the present invention involves selecting a diameter and height for a separation container and superconducting coil by optimizing at least one parameter from a group of parameters. The magnetic separation apparatus includes a superconducting electromagnet and separation container having a diameter of about 60 inches, a height of about 40 inches, an inlet port, an outlet port, and removable matrix modules. The electromagnet generates a magnetic field strength within the separation container of greater than 3 Tesla. The optimized separation container volume, the high magnetic field strength, and the matrix modules allow the magnetic separation apparatus to have greatly increased slurry processing capacity.