DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF COMBINED ELECTROMAGNETIC AND MAGNETIC DRUM-BELT CONVEYOR SEPARATOR

O. O. Ajibola; A. O. Adebayo; S. G. Borisade; H. T. Oladimeji; E. Oluwalana; M. P. Daramola; A. E. Adeleke; D. O. Omoyeni

O. O. Ajibola Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria
A. O. Adebayo Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria
S. G. Borisade Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria
H. T. Oladimeji Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria
E. Oluwalana Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria
M. P. Daramola Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria
A. E. Adeleke Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria
D. O. Omoyeni Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Engineering Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

Keywords: Drum-belt conveyor, Electromagnet, Fabrication, Magnet, Separator

Abstract

Mineral processing operations are faced with many challenges which include effective separation of unwanted materials generated through the extraction process from the bulk material. Magnetic device is a machine used for separating magnetic materials from non-magnetic materials by inducing the magnetic flux. Magnetic and electromagnetic separators are widely used as primary separation equipment. This work was centred on the design and construction of a laboratory-sized dual purpose magnetic and electromagnetic separator for separating the magnetic particles from the rest of the bulk mineral or ferrous materials from foundry sand in a single system. The main components of the equipment include: the hopper, conveyor belt rotating drums, pulley and belt, electromagnet. The approaches to achieving the result reported include the design conceptualization, design calculation, design drawing using the AutoCAD and Inventor software, fabrication and assembly of components. The evaluation showed that electromagnetic separation is more efficient than magnetic separation. The equipment was fabricated at an average cost of 224,000:00 naira.