Described are microparticle fractionating apparatus and methods of fractionating microparticles. Multiple electrodes may be used to charge droplets when separating and collecting microparticles based on a result analyzed by an optical methodologies. A first electrode may be used to charge a sample fluid, and a second electrode used to apply additional charge near a droplet break-off point.

Described are microparticle fractionating apparatus and methods of fractionating microparticles. Multiple electrodes may be used to charge droplets when separating and collecting microparticles based on a result analyzed by an optical methodologies. A first electrode may be used to charge a sample fluid, and a second electrode used to apply additional charge near a droplet break-off point.

The present invention relates to a method and a device for the electrostatic separation of granular mixtures of millimetric or sub-millimetric size, which are composed of non-conductive particles, non-conductive and conductive particles and conductive particles, simultaneously using the electric field E, aerodynamic force and gravity. Said forces are exerted on the particles which are previously charged in an intense electric field E generated by a DC voltage applied to two coaxial cylinders, that constitute electrodes. A mechanical cleaning system detaches the particles from the surface of the electrodes, and facilitates the recovery thereof in a collection system, under the action of cyclone vacuums, in such a way that the cleaning of the electrodes and the collection of the separated particles is continuously performed.

The present invention relates to a method and a device for the electrostatic separation of granular mixtures of millimetric or sub-millimetric size, which are composed of non-conductive particles, non-conductive and conductive particles and conductive particles, simultaneously using the electric field E, aerodynamic force and gravity. Said forces are exerted on the particles which are previously charged in an intense electric field E generated by a DC voltage applied to two coaxial cylinders, that constitute electrodes. A mechanical cleaning system detaches the particles from the surface of the electrodes, and facilitates the recovery thereof in a collection system, under the action of cyclone vacuums, in such a way that the cleaning of the electrodes and the collection of the separated particles is continuously performed.

A device for triboelectric charging of a mixture of granules of different materials, the device having a charging chamber with walls delimiting an inner space. The walls define a granule inlet and a granule outlet, the granule inlet and the granule outlet being separated from one another relative to an elevation direction. A blowing device is arranged suitable for generating, in the inner space, an air flow suitable for allowing the granules in the chamber to form a fluidized bed, and a plurality of grids are positioned in the chamber, the grids being suitable for blocking the passage of the granules, the grids forming a set of baffles in the inner space between the granule inlet and the granule outlet.

A device for triboelectric charging of a mixture of granules of different materials, the device having a charging chamber with walls delimiting an inner space. The walls define a granule inlet and a granule outlet, the granule inlet and the granule outlet being separated from one another relative to an elevation direction. A blowing device is arranged suitable for generating, in the inner space, an air flow suitable for allowing the granules in the chamber to form a fluidized bed, and a plurality of grids are positioned in the chamber, the grids being suitable for blocking the passage of the granules, the grids forming a set of baffles in the inner space between the granule inlet and the granule outlet.

A method and system for air classification of a milled feed stock includes generating a feed stream by combining the milled feed stock with at least one gasflow element, wherein the milled feed stock includes a plurality of particle sizes. The method and system includes directing the feed stream across a curvilinear surface, such that the milled feed stock in the feed stream separates into a plurality of classification streams, each of the plurality of classification streams based on the particle sizes of the milled feed stock. Therein, the method and system separates the plurality of classification streams and collects each of the plurality of classification streams, thereby classifying the milled feed stock contained therein based on the particle sizes for each of the plurality of classification streams.

A method for designing one part of an electrostatic separating device of a mixture of different material granules, the method including providing a sorting performance value to be met by the device when at least one predefined mixture is introduced into the device to be sorted, optimizing a value of at least one parameter of the set of parameters relating to the device part by using an optimization technique, the optimization technique including the use of a sorting performance model of the device, and the optimization technique occurring under the constraint that the sorting performed by the device has the given sorting performance value.

A method for designing one part of an electrostatic separating device of a mixture of different material granules, the method including providing a sorting performance value to be met by the device when at least one predefined mixture is introduced into the device to be sorted, optimizing a value of at least one parameter of the set of parameters relating to the device part by using an optimization technique, the optimization technique including the use of a sorting performance model of the device, and the optimization technique occurring under the constraint that the sorting performed by the device has the given sorting performance value.

A device for triboelectric charging of a mixture of granules of different materials, the device having a charging chamber with walls delimiting an inner space. The walls define a granule inlet and a granule outlet, the granule inlet and the granule outlet being separated from one another relative to an elevation direction. A blowing device is arranged suitable for generating, in the inner space, an air flow suitable for allowing the granules in the chamber to form a fluidized bed, and a plurality of grids are positioned in the chamber, the grids being suitable for blocking the passage of the granules, the grids forming a set of baffles in the inner space between the granule inlet and the granule outlet.