Experimental study and numerical simulation of particles trajectories in a flexible-electrode-type electrostatic separator

Abstract

The novel device used in this study is a free fall electrostatic separator equipped with flexible electrodes. This special feature enabled the experimentation of different electric field configurations, avoiding as much as possible the impacts of particles on electrode walls, which is the major drawback of standard free-fall electrostatic separators. The present work was focused on the numerical modelling and simulating the trajectories of charged insulating particles. The study was aimed at contributing to a more in-depth understanding of the various physical phenomena that occur during electrostatic separation. An accurate numerical model of particle movement was developed. The results of the numerical simulations were validated using the experimental data obtained with an appropriate image acquisition tool.