A system for processing scrap material that includes a variable-power electromagnetic drum separator wherein shredded scrap material is placed in free fall at a position proximate the electromagnetic drum separator. A first fraction of the scrap material is attracted to the electromagnetic drum separator and is carried under the rotational axis of the electromagnetic drum separator thereby separating the first fraction of material from a second fraction of the material which continues to free fall and wherein the first fraction is a low-copper ferrous material with the second fraction having a higher non-ferrous content than the first fraction. A magnetic drum separator may be positioned upstream of the variable-power electromagnetic drum separator and be used to separate non-ferrous materials. The variable-power electromagnetic drum separator may be adjusted so that the second fraction includes some ferrous material. A robotic picker may be used to remove undesirable materials from the second fraction.

A system for processing scrap material that includes a variable-power electromagnetic drum separator wherein shredded scrap material is placed in free fall at a position proximate the electromagnetic drum separator. A first fraction of the scrap material is attracted to the electromagnetic drum separator and is carried under the rotational axis of the electromagnetic drum separator thereby separating the first fraction of material from a second fraction of the material which continues to free fall and wherein the first fraction is a low-copper ferrous material with the second fraction having a higher non-ferrous content than the first fraction. A magnetic drum separator may be positioned upstream of the variable-power electromagnetic drum separator and be used to separate non-ferrous materials. The variable-power electromagnetic drum separator may be adjusted so that the second fraction includes some ferrous material. A robotic picker may be used to remove undesirable materials from the second fraction.

A system is provided for the quantitative magnetic separation of magnetic objects (e.g., particles or cells). The system uses magnetic ratcheting over arrays of ferromagnetic elements having gradient spacing manifested in various pitch zones that are encountered by the magnetic objects as they traverse the array. The system can be used to separate and concentrate magnetic objects based on iron oxide content. For cells, different phenotypes may be separated based, for example, on surface expression of proteins or molecules that are bound to magnetic particles. The system includes a substrate or chip having the array of ferromagnetic elements with increasing lateral pitch and an externally driven magnet device that generates a cycling magnetic field. Magnetic objects with higher IOC separate and equilibrate along the array at larger pitches. The system can be used for the differential sorting of particles and cells of interest.

A system is provided for the quantitative magnetic separation of magnetic objects (e.g., particles or cells). The system uses magnetic ratcheting over arrays of ferromagnetic elements having gradient spacing manifested in various pitch zones that are encountered by the magnetic objects as they traverse the array. The system can be used to separate and concentrate magnetic objects based on iron oxide content. For cells, different phenotypes may be separated based, for example, on surface expression of proteins or molecules that are bound to magnetic particles. The system includes a substrate or chip having the array of ferromagnetic elements with increasing lateral pitch and an externally driven magnet device that generates a cycling magnetic field. Magnetic objects with higher IOC separate and equilibrate along the array at larger pitches. The system can be used for the differential sorting of particles and cells of interest.

A particle separator including a rotor disposed inside a housing. The rotor has a plurality of magnetic sections that are arranged with alternating poles. A drive rotates the rotor to generate a changing magnetic field. Magnetic particles and non-magnetic conductive particles are removed from a liquid that flows through the particle separator. The magnetic particles attach to the rotor and the non-magnetic conductive particles are repelled away from the rotor by the changing magnetic field.

A particle separator including a rotor disposed inside a housing. The rotor has a plurality of magnetic sections that are arranged with alternating poles. A drive rotates the rotor to generate a changing magnetic field. Magnetic particles and non-magnetic conductive particles are removed from a liquid that flows through the particle separator. The magnetic particles attach to the rotor and the non-magnetic conductive particles are repelled away from the rotor by the changing magnetic field.

A compensating flow control assembly for a solid material separator such as a magnetic separator or air wash separator. The compensating flow control assembly automatically controls or adjusts the amount of contaminated shot blast media flowing from a hopper to a rotary magnetic drum, in the case where the solid material separator is a magnetic separator, or to an air chamber in the case where the solid material separator is an air wash separator, based upon the amount of contaminated shot blast media being fed to and held by the hopper.

Methods of reducing copper metal content of shredded scrap steel are provided. The method includes continuously separating a first scrap steel fraction from an amount of scrap steel concurrently with separating a second fraction from the amount of scrap steel; continuously separating the second fraction and providing a nonmagnetic fraction and, concurrently, a third scrap steel fraction; grinding the nonmagnetic fraction followed by magnetic separation to provide a fourth scrap steel fraction and, concurrently, an enriched nonmagnetic fraction; continuously combining the first scrap steel fraction, the third scrap steel fraction, and the fourth scrap steel fraction to obtain a combined scrap steel product comprising scrap steel with reduced copper metal content; and introducing the combined scrap steel product to an electric arc furnace. Systems of reducing copper metal content of shredded scrap steel are also provided.

A magnetic drum separator comprises a drum rotatable about an axis, the drum comprising an internal chamber and an opening at an end of the drum providing access into the internal chamber. The magnetic drum separator also comprises an inlet for supplying a liquid or granular substance into the internal chamber through the opening, a magnet outside of the drum for attracting magnetic material in the liquid or granular substance towards an internal sidewall of the internal chamber, a collection device for recovering magnetic material attracted to the internal sidewall and an annular seal member attached to the end of the drum that rotates with the drum in use. A baffle that bears against the annular seal member partially seals the opening. A plurality of cavities formed in the annular seal member receive fluid leaking into a boundary between the annular seal member and the baffle.

A magnetic drum separator comprises a drum rotatable about an axis, the drum comprising an internal chamber and an opening at an end of the drum providing access into the internal chamber. The magnetic drum separator also comprises an inlet for supplying a liquid or granular substance into the internal chamber through the opening, a magnet outside of the drum for attracting magnetic material in the liquid or granular substance towards an internal sidewall of the internal chamber, a collection device for recovering magnetic material attracted to the internal sidewall and an annular seal member attached to the end of the drum that rotates with the drum in use. A baffle that bears against the annular seal member partially seals the opening. A plurality of cavities formed in the annular seal member receive fluid leaking into a boundary between the annular seal member and the baffle.