Experimental investigation of an electrostatic adhesion device used for metal/polymer granular mixture sorting

• Published in: Powder technology Vol. 391; pp. 301 - 310
• Main Authors: Louati, Hamza, Zouzou, Noureddine, Tilmatine, Amar, Zouaghi, Ayyoub, Ouiddir, Rabah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 01.10.2021; Elsevier BV; Elsevier
• Subjects: Actuators; Adhesion; Copper; Electrical and geometrical parameters optimization; Electrostatic adhesion actuator; Electrostatic properties; Electrostatic sorting performance; Engineering Sciences; Granular materials; Metal particles; Metal/polymer granular mixture; Metals; Optimization; Polymers; Polyvinyl chloride; Vibration; Metal/polymer granular mixture; Electrostatic sorting performance; Electrical and geometrical parameters optimization; Electrostatic adhesion actuator
• ISSN: 0032-5910; 1873-328X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.powtec.2021.06.019

Electrostatic adhesion (EA) technique have been used recently for the electrostatic sorting of metal/polymer granular material mixture. The action seat on the materials is an EA actuator composed of an interposed electrodes network covered by a dielectric barrier and powered by polyphase voltages. The sorting principle consists of attaching the metal particles by EA, and of moving the polymer particles larger than 500 μm, mainly by gravity and vibration. The purpose of this paper is to optimize the EA mechanism for electrostatic sorting. The first part consists of evaluating the behavior of materials (Cu, PE, and PVC) on the EA actuator surface using a 180°-rotating system. The results showed that the metal attaches to the actuator surface while the polymer does not; they also indicate the optimal factors contributing to the adhesion process. In the second part related to sorting application, the granular materials behavior and the influencing factors are explored in an inclined vibrating system to process a Cu/PVC mixture. For an inclination of 10°, Cu recovery on the actuator exceeds 98% with a purity of about 99%. [Display omitted] •Electrostatic adhesion is applied to metal/polymer granular mixture sorting.•Actuator is fixed on 180° rotating system for electric and geometric optimization.•Metal particles attach to the actuator surface while polymer ones fall by gravity.•Optimal parameters are used in a vibrating inclined plane system for sorting.•High performance of recovery and purity is obtained by separation demonstrator.