Separation of dry particulate mixtures by controlled vertical vibration

Physicists at the University of Nottingham, UK, have identified that through careful control of frequency and acceleration during the course of vertical vibration different types of particles can be positioned and=or segregated in a small rectangular cell. Based on this work the work presented in this paper focuses on the operation of a novel, dry-based, semi-continuous, and scaled-up version of the prototype scaled particle separator. The newly designed separator was driven by a pneumatically powered vertical vibration bench. Dry, noncohesive mixtures of sand and bronze particles (<500 mm) were vertically vibrated under different operating conditions to assess their separation behaviors. The work reported in this article led to the identification of significant particle separation parameters such as: particle bed height, partition gap distance, and initial mixture concentration. Experiments on a new semi-continuous particle separator confirmed what was identified previously in that good separation could be achieved through careful control of the frequency and acceleration. This information lays the foundations for a new breed of low cost, dry separator for fine particle mixtures.