Patent ID: 7886913
Filing Date: 2011-02-15
Classification: B03C

Abstract:
1. A method for separating a mineral assemblage slurry into a magnetic particle fraction and a non-magnetic particle fraction, comprising: providing a high intensity magnetic separation device comprising a drum-shaped set of connected and spaced apart hollow rings rotating around a common horizontal axis, each hollow ring defining openings through inner and outer surfaces thereof and containing a matrix material therein, whereby said set of rings is configured to allow passage of a plurality of separate inwardly moving fluid streams through said outer openings into said hollow rings, in contact with said matrix material contained in said rings, and through said inner openings, and to allow passage of an outwardly moving fluid stream through said inner openings, said matrix material, and said outer openings; said device further comprising a first set of permanent magnets positioned to apply a first magnetic field across said rings at a first position in an upper quadrant of said rings where the rotation of said rings approaches the top-most point of rotation, and a second set of permanent magnets positioned to apply a second magnetic field across said rings at a second position in the lower quadrant of said rings where the rotation of said rings approaches the bottom-most point of rotation; feeding the slurry to an outer surface of said set of rings, and into said rings through said outer openings, at a position where said matrix is positioned in said first magnetic field; passing a first non-magnetic particle fraction through the matrix while the matrix is in the first magnetic field and into a first non-magnetic flowpath; flushing magnetic particles that adhere to the matrix in the first magnetic field with water after the matrix rotates out of the first magnetic field, to pass said magnetic particles into a first magnetic flowpath separate and distinct from the first non-magnetic flowpath to provide a first magnetic particle fraction; feeding the first non-magnetic particle fraction to an inner surface of said set of rings, and into said rings through said inner openings, at a position where said matrix is positioned in said second magnetic field; passing a second non-magnetic particle fraction through the matrix while the matrix is in the second magnetic field and into a second non-magnetic flowpath; and flushing magnetic particles that adhere to the matrix in the second magnetic field with water after the matrix rotates out of the second magnetic field, to pass said magnetic particles into a second magnetic flowpath separate and distinct from the second non-magnetic flowpath to provide a second magnetic particle fraction; wherein at least one of said hollow rings is divided into a plurality of arc-shaped compartments; and wherein each of said plurality of compartments contains a plurality of discreet magnetically susceptible objects.