Separation of differently shaped fine particles by a new wet shape separator—effects of sweep methods on the separation characteristics

Two kinds of sweep methods, one using a nozzle (SM-N) and one using a nozzle with an affixed sweep-pipe (SM-S), were applied to the newly developed wet shape separator to remove residual particles on a rotating conical disk. The effects of these sweep methods on the separation characteristics were experimentally investigated using binary mixtures of spherical (s-) and irregularly shaped (i-) particles under various operating conditions. The following results were confirmed: (1) the SM-S method enabled us to recover almost all of the i-particles at the sweep point, and to decrease the residual particles on the disk; (2) the counterclockwise circulating liquid flow caused by the Coriolisʹ effect reduced the separation behavior between s- and i-particles, and could be inhibited only under the SM-S method; and (3) owing to the effects (1) and (2), shape separation could be more effectively performed under SM-S than under SM-N.