Augmenting and facilitating flushing in magnetic separation

• US 4,087,358 A
• Filed: 10/12/1976
• Issued: 05/02/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: JM Huber Corporation
• Original Assignee: JM Huber Corporation
• Inventors: Oder, Robin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knowles, Allen N.
• Application Number:
  US05/731,398
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 210/222, 210/223, 210/335, 210/337, 210/338, 209/111.8, 209/212, 209/213, 209/214, 209/227
• US Class Current: 210/425
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/06 Filters making use of electricity or magnetism ultrafiltration, microfiltration B01D61/14; electrodialysis, electro-osmosis B01D61/42; devices comprising filters and magnetic separators B03C1/30
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 1/032 Matrix cleaning systems

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for augmenting or facilitating flushing of impurities collected by a porous ferromagnetic matrix. The matrix is contained in a canister, through which an aqueous clay slurry is flowed as an applied field magnetizes the matrix to enable attraction of the discoloring magnetics. The periodic flushing of the matrix is rendered of increased efficacy, by applying auxiliary mechanical forces to dislodge the magnetics; or other disclosed means and methods may be used to facilitate the flushing operation.

Claims

1. In the method for effecting magnetic separation of magnetically attractable particles from a dispersion of said particles in a fluid carrier, by flowing said dispersion through a non-magnetic canister including a porous ferromagnetic matrix while applying a magnetic field to said matrix;

and wherein said method includes at least one step wherein impurities collected by said matrix are flushed from the matrix to regenerate same;

the improvement comprising;

applying auxiliary mechanical forces to dislodge said collected magnetics, thereby augmenting the results achieved in accordance with said flushing step, wherein said auxiliary mechanical forces include augmented drag forces provided by utilizing a viscious flushing medium consisting of a clay slurry to thereby increase the viscous forces acting on collected particles within said matrix.

2. In the method for effecting magnetic separation of magnetically attractable particles from a dispersion of said particles in a fluid carrier, by flowing said dispersion through a non-magnetic canister including a porous ferromagnetic matrix while applying a magnetic field to said matrix;

and wherein said method includes at least one step wherein inpurities collected by said matrix are flushed from the matrix to regenerate same;

the improvement comprising;

applying auxiliary mechanical forces to dislodge said collected magnetics, thereby augmenting the results achieved in accordance with said flushing step, wherein said auxiliary mechanical forces include augmented drag forces provided by utilizing a viscous flushing medium consisting of a thickened clay slurry to thereby increase the viscous forces acting on collected particles within said matrix.

3. In the method for effecting magnetic separation of magnetically attractable particles from a dispersion of said particles in a fluid carrier, by flowing said dispersion through a non-magnetic canister including a porous ferromagnetic matrix while applying a magnetic field to said matrix;

and wherein said method includes at least one step wherein impurities collected by said matrix are flushed from the matrix to regenerate same;

the improvement comprising;

applying auxiliary mechanical forces to dislodge said collected magnetics, thereby augmenting the results achieved in accordance with said flushing step, wherein said auxiliary mechanical forces include augmented drag forces provided by utilizing a viscious flushing medium consisting of a reflocculated clay slurry to thereby increase the viscous forces acting on collected particles within said matrix.