The electrodynamic separation of conducting materials using inductors with a variable pole pair number

This paper analyses systems for the automatic sorting of municipal solid waste and identifies shortcomings. It proposes an original method for the electrodynamic separation of electrically conductive materials using one or more inductors with a variable number of pole pairs, which create a traveling electromagnetic field and act on electrically conductive fragments of municipal solid waste. During separation, the inductor windings are switched so that the pole division changes discretely from the maximum to the minimum or vice versa, with a switching time interval determined by the maximum value of the inertia of the electrically conductive fragments with a size close to the value of the pole division. The method of electrodynamic separation and the control unit of the electrodynamic separation system are described. The method expands the functionality of automated systems for sorting and processing electrically conductive municipal solid waste and increases separation performance.