4. High-gradient, high-field superconducting coil separators

Like high-intensity separators, high-gradient separators have major drawbacks when the magnetic field required for separation exceeds 800 kA/m :

• high installed electrical power (" 400 kW) ;

• high electrical energy consumption (average 5 kWh/t) ;

• complex cooling system and high consumption of deionized water (1 L/kW installed) ;

• high steel consumption (300 t).

For the separation of ultra-fine particles (< 5 µm) with low magnetic susceptibility, magnetic force densities in excess of 10 ¹¹ N/m ³ are required. With conventional circuits, this is neither technically nor economically feasible (magnetic saturation of the...