Dynamics of electrostatic separation of concretions in contact with an electrode

Abstract

1. The calculation methods developed make it possible to determine during charging at a receiving electrode the charges and electric forces for open concretions having inclusions in the form of a discontinuous shell, or in the form of individual embedded particles. 2. During electrostatic separation concretions behave as both conductors and nonconductors depending on the charging time and orientation of the concretion at the receiving electrode. 3. Inclusions in the form of individual embedded particles or recesses facing the receiving electrode do not have any practical effect on the behavior of particles during typical separation times. 4. Presence on a nonconducting particle of a conducting inclusion in the form of a thin shell exposed to the corona-forming electrode leads to the situation that during electrostatic separation the particle behaves as a conductor. 5. If on a conducting particle there is a thin nonconducting shell exposed to the corona-forming electrode, then the particle behaves as a conductor, and electric forces may cause rupture of the shell.