High-Gradient Magnetic Filtration of Paramagnetic Dust Using Woven Wire Matrix

Abstract

This paper describes the use of woven wire to filter airborne paramagnetic dust by means of a high-gradient magnetic method. Cupric oxide (CuO) powder with particle diameter of less than 2 μm was used for this study. Tests were performed to examine the effect on collection efficiency of varying the number of wire meshes, the stacking of meshes together, and varying the background magnetic field and flow velocity, as well as separating the meshes by means of rings. The results showed that an increase in the number of screens or field strength improved the collection efficiency. An increase in the flow velocity from 5.6 to 7.6 ms-1 was observed to reduce slightly the efficiency of capture of particles. The results obtained from tests carried out with the meshes separated by rings showed a significant reduction in particle collection efficiency.