Effect of spark discharges on the trajectories of insulating particles in roll-type corona-electrostatic separators. Experimental and numerical study

Corona-electrostatic separation is a multi-variable process that has been thoroughly studied in connection with its various applications in the recycling industry. The aim of the present paper is to point out one parasitic phenomenon that adversely affects the efficiency of the separation: the sparks generated at the passage of conductive particles through the electric field zone. The experiments were carried out on a laboratory roll-type corona electrostatic separators, and the sparks were generated by introducing 16 calibrated copper pins in 40-g samples of granular insulating material (PVC; typical granule size: 1.5 mm) that were fed at a constant rate onto the surface of the grounded rotating roll electrode. The distribution of the PVC granules in the 14 boxes of the collector was altered by the occurrence of the spark discharges, as they were accompanied by the annealing of the electric field between the electrodes. The numerical simulation of insulating granules charging and movement under the action of the electric field enabled a better understanding of the interactions between the spark discharges and the other factors that influence their trajectories and affect the efficiency of the separation: roll-speed, particle size and ambient humidity. The particle dynamics equations were solved using an iterative scheme by using the electric field calculated in any point with the commercial software TRICOMP. The good agreement between the predictions made by these simulations and the experimental findings confirms the ability of the mathematical model to reflect the complexity of the physical phenomena. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.