Separation Characteristics Obtained from Electrode Partitioning MHD Method for Separating Oil from Contaminated Seawater Using High-Field Superconducting Magnet

A magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) method of oil separation from contaminated seawater is based on the difference in the electric conductivity between seawater and oil; the separation force applied to oil induced by the electromagnetic force is used to separate the oil. A new electrode partitioning MHD separation method has been designed and studied. This method has the advantage of utilizing a wide space with a uniform electromagnetic force, even though the superconducting magnet used has a nonuniform field distribution. Experimental results for the separation characteristics obtained from the electrode partitioning MHD method in a high magnetic field of 10 T using a mixture of artificial seawater and simulation particles instead of oil droplets are discussed.