Goudsmit Magnetics develops eddy current conveyor feed system

The conveyor feed system recently developed by Netherlands-based Goudsmit Magnetics consists of a conveyor belt feed that is supplied by a product distributor. This prevents clogging of the vibratory chute during the recycling process and increases the yield of non-ferrous metals, the company says.

Sticky or damp product streams, such as auto shredder residue (ASR), incinerator bottom ash (IBA) and refuse-derived fuel (RDF), adhere to the surface of vibratory chutes, preventing them from distributing the product evenly. A common solution to this problem was to clean the feed belt or vibratory chute at weekly or monthly intervals, Goudsmit says. This newly developed conveyor feed system prevents this problem by creating a monolayer that ensures full belt coverage, according to the company, improving the separation efficiency of the magnetic separator and extending the service life of the conveyor.

The system consists of three conveyor belts, each with its own task. The first conveyor belt is at an angle and feeds the material until it reaches the product distributors, or churners. These turn through the material and distribute it evenly on the belt in a monolayer. If the amount of material being fed exceeds the capacity, the excess material slides back down, ensuring a constant volume and continuous flow to the next processing step, Goudsmit says. The second conveyor belt (magnetic separator) is flat and transports the material toward the end of the belt and the magnetic head roller. Here ferrous parts are deflected and separated. The third conveyor (eddy current separator) is now supplied with optimum material flow: a monolayer spread across the width of the belt and free from fluctuations in density, according to the company. The ferrous metals are also removed so they do not interfere with the eddy current separation step.

Goudsmit says the complete system optimizes ferrous and nonferrous separation without time-consuming machine downtime for cleaning encrusted vibratory chutes.