Development of a Water Purification System using Superconducting Magnetic Separation

• Published in: Teion kōgaku Vol. 46; no. 11; pp. 641 - 648
• Main Authors: MORITA, Minoru, ISOGAMI, Hisashi, YUMOTO, Satoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese; English
• Published: Tokyo Japan Science and Technology Agency 01.11.2011
• ISSN: 0389-2441; 1880-0408
• DOI: 10.2221/jcsj.46.641

This study presents a newly developed superconducting magnetic separation system capable of continuous operation without interruption of feed-water owing to its unique structure, consisting of a continuously rotating disk-type magnetic filter and solenoid-type superconducting magnet. The continuously rotating disk-type magnetic filter, which is installed outwardly from the center axis of the magnet bore, is mounted on the cryostat and the superconducting magnet is energized using a permanent current switch, which consumes less electric power. This structure enables provision of a continuous operation system with high-speed and energy-saving separation treatment. We carried out a field test for two years including continuous operation for 1,000 hours. The test plant constructed had a capacity of 500 m3/day in order to study the possibility of applying the system for the purification of polluted lake and river water. The results show that the system has good performance, evidenced by a phosphorous removal rate of more than 85% and a suspended solid removal rate of less than 5 mg/L at a separation speed of 0.1 m/s. This system was found to be capable of being used practically for water pollution purification.