Magnetic (e.g., Electromagnetic, Etc.) Or Electrostatic Processes Patents (Class 75/10.67)
  • Patent number: 11919089
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for splitting an electrically conductive liquid, in particular a melt jet, comprising the steps providing the electrically conductive liquid which moves in a first direction (12) in the form of a liquid jet (10); and generating high-frequency travelling electromagnetic fields surrounding the liquid jet (10) which travel in the first direction (12) and accelerate the liquid jet (10) in the first direction (12), thereby atomizing the liquid jet (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ALD VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Henrik Franz, Sergejs Spitans
  • Patent number: 11806760
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for sorting copper-bearing ore to select portions having a target copper content. The system includes an analysis and selection station including first magnetic resonance analyzer measuring the copper content of input ore and a controlled diverter to divert portions of the input ore to a collection path when the copper content meets or exceeds a predetermined cut-off value. The predetermined cut-off is adjusted by a controller in response to the first magnetic resonance analyzer. A second magnetic resonance analyzer measures the copper content of the ore in a product path. That measurement is fed back to the controller to fine tune the adjusted cut-off value above, up or down, to optimize the yield of ore having the targeted copper content. The system may include a station for sizing the input ore, a station for sizing the output ore, and a station for sizing waste produced by the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: CD Processing Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel Shaw, James Saville
  • Patent number: 11498128
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing a metallic article involve providing a non-metallic feedstock, for example in the form of an oxide of a desired metal or a mixture of oxides of the components of a desired metal alloy. A manufacturing apparatus has a reduction apparatus for electrochemically reducing the feedstock to a metallic product and a processor for converting the metallic product to a metallic powder. The powder is fed into an additive-manufacturing apparatus for fabricating the metallic article from the metallic powder. At least the reduction apparatus and the processor, and preferably also the additive-manufacturing apparatus, are collocated, or located in the same container, or in the same building, or on the same site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: METALYSIS LIMITED
    Inventors: Dion Vaughan, Melchiorre Conti
  • Patent number: 11450902
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery pre-processing apparatus and method. The battery pre-processing apparatus includes a control mechanism, as well as an automatic feeding mechanism, a transmission mechanism, an electricity monitoring actuator, a non-destructive testing mechanism, a flexible grabber mechanism, a multi-station operating table, an automatic cutting mechanism, an automatic separation mechanism, and a recovery and dust collection system that are each electrically connected to the control mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF PROCESS ENGINEERING, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Hongbin Cao, Fei Kang, Zhi Sun, Xionghui Lu
  • Patent number: 11370027
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing a container containing a metal and/or ferromagnetic solid and abrasive particles in a static magnetic field; where the container is surrounded by an induction coil; activating the induction coil with an electrical current, to heat up the metallic or ferromagnetic solid to form a fluid; generating sonic energy to produce acoustic cavitation and abrasion between the abrasive particles and the container; and producing nanoparticles that comprise elements from the container, the metal and/or the ferromagnetic solid and the abrasive particles. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising first metal or a first ceramic; and particles comprising carbides and/or nitrides dispersed therein. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising nanoparticles comprising chromium carbide, iron carbide, nickel carbide, ?-Fe and magnesium nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignees: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc., UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Michele Viola Manuel, Hunter B. Henderson, Orlando Rios, Gerard M. Ludtka
  • Patent number: 11130177
    Abstract: A method for producing a metal powder includes maintaining molten reducing metal in a sealed reaction vessel that is free of added oxygen and water, establishing a vortex in the molten reducing metal, introducing a metal halide into the vortex so that the molten reducing metal is in a stoichiometric excess to the metal halide, thereby producing metal particles and salt, removing unreacted reducing metal, removing the salt, and recovering the metal powder. The molten reducing metal can be a Group I metal, a Group II metal, or aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Nanoscale Powders LLC
    Inventors: David Henderson, Andrew Matheson, Richard Van Lieshout, Donald Finnerty, John W. Koenitzer
  • Patent number: 10689732
    Abstract: A method of controlling iron in a hydrometallurgical process is disclosed. The method may comprise the steps of: leaching (14, 114) a feed slurry (2, 102); forming a pregnant leach solution (12a, 12b; 112a, 112b); removing a first leach residue (18, 118) from the pregnant leach solution (12a, 12b); and sending a portion (12b, 112b) of the pregnant leach solution (12a, 12b) and/or raffinate (22, 122) produced therefrom, to an iron removal process (34, 134). According to some preferred embodiments, the iron removal process (34, 134) may comprise the steps of: sequentially processing the pregnant leach solution (12a, 12b) and/or raffinate (22, 122) produced therefrom in a first reactor (R1) a second reactor (R2), and a third reactor (R3); maintaining a pH level of the first reactor (R1) above 4, by virtue of the addition of a first base; maintaining a pH level of the second (R2) and/or third (R3) reactors above 8.5, by virtue of a second base; and forming solids (46) comprising magnetite (68).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: FLSmidth A/S
    Inventors: David John Chaiko, Frank Baczek, Sara (Sally) Rocks
  • Patent number: 10654107
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing a container containing a metal and/or ferromagnetic solid and abrasive particles in a static magnetic field; where the container is surrounded by an induction coil; activating the induction coil with an electrical current, to heat up the metallic or ferromagnetic solid to form a fluid; generating sonic energy to produce acoustic cavitation and abrasion between the abrasive particles and the container; and producing nanoparticles that comprise elements from the container, the metal and/or the ferromagnetic solid and the abrasive particles. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising first metal or a first ceramic; and particles comprising carbides and/or nitrides dispersed therein. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising nanoparticles comprising chromium carbide, iron carbide, nickel carbide, ?-Fe and magnesium nickel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Michele Viola Manuel, Hunter B. Henderson, Orlando Rios, Gerard M. Ludtka
  • Patent number: 10629345
    Abstract: There is provided a production method and a production device for producing each of the rare earth sintered magnet sintered bodies without carrying a mold in a sintering furnace. The method includes feeding an alloy powder into a mold having side walls divided into two or more sections; filling the alloy powder into the mold to prepare a filled molded-body; orienting the alloy powder in the filled molded-body by applying a magnetic field to the filled molded-body to prepare an oriented filled-molded-body; detaching the side walls of the mold from the oriented filled-molded-body and retrieving the oriented filled-molded-body from the mold; and sintering the retrieved oriented filled-molded-body. The filling step and the orienting step are performed at different locations. A pulsed magnetic field can be applied in the orienting step and inside of the mold can be partitioned into a plurality of cavities by partitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: NDFEB CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masato Sagawa, Shinichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10190825
    Abstract: A system and a method for determining/predicting a tapping time for a metal melt in an electric arc furnace (EAF), at least one electrode is provided for melting the metal melt until it reach a target tapping temperature, the EAF further includes a slag and smoke layer on the surface of the metal melt, wherein an electromagnetic stirrer is provided for stirring the metal melt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Xiaojing Zhang, Jan Erik Eriksson, Michael Lundh, Conny Svahn
  • Patent number: 10079091
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a sintered magnet, using a mold provided with a main body having a cavity and a lid whose inner face is flat, and the method containing a filling process of filling alloy powder in the cavity and then mounting the lid on the main body, an orienting process of applying a magnetic field in a predetermined direction to the alloy powder in a state of being filled in the cavity, a sintering process of sintering the alloy powder by heating in a state of being filled in the cavity after the orienting process, and a mold inverting process of turning the mold upside down which is carried out between the filling process and the orienting process or between the orienting process and the sintering process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: DAIDO STEEL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yusuke Tozawa
  • Patent number: 10058919
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a sintered compact includes a first step in which magnetic powder is fabricated by rapid solidification, a second step in which a mass of the magnetic powder is housed in a forming mold, and preliminary heating is performed by placing the mass of the magnetic powder in a preliminary heating part of the forming mold at first temperature that is lower than coarse crystal particle generation temperature, and a third step in which main heating is performed by placing the preliminarily heated mass of the magnetic powder at second temperature that is lower than the coarse crystal particle generation temperature and higher than the first temperature, and press forming is performed while keeping temperature of the magnetic powder at densification temperature or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomonori Inuzuka, Akira Kano
  • Patent number: 9890442
    Abstract: A method for synthesizing a metal matrix nanocomposite (MMNC) is an in-situ synthesis technique for preparing a metal matrix with ceramic reinforcements dispersed homogenously therein. The method includes mixing a base metal matrix material with two or more ceramic-forming elements to form a mixture; blending the mixture; drying the mixture; ball milling the mixture with a plurality of milling balls to form a milled mixture; using induction heating to form a melt flow and induce electromagnetic forces; and initiating a plurality of stirring vortexes in the melt flow to form the metal matrix nanocomposite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: KING SAUD UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ahmed Mohammed Nabawy Nabawy, El-Sayed M. Sherif, Khalil Abdelrazek Khalil
  • Patent number: 9879331
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an eco-friendly and single step process for the preparation of high purity iron by using hydrogen plasma in a suitable smelting reactor furnace. Reduction of iron oxide in excess of 99% can be achieved by reducing the iron ore in hydrogen plasma smelting system. The product quality is greatly improved as there is no instance of coke inclusion which otherwise would have carried carbon, sulphur, phosphorous, silica, etc. with it. In addition, this greatly diminishes carbon dioxide emission thereby making the process highly eco-friendly in nature. Apart from these, the process produces water as the only by-product. The process takes care of the green house effect with the non-involvement of gases like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide during the operation. Thus, the present process is developed to produce high pure iron in a hydrogen plasma reactor without using carbon as reductant which thereby reduces the carbon dioxide emission drastically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Byagyadhar Bhoi, Barada Kanta Mishra, Raja Kishore Paramguru, Chinmaya Kumar Sarangi, Pravas Ranjan Behera, Priyanka Rajput, Partha Sarathi Mukherjee, Snigdha Priyadarshini
  • Patent number: 9359659
    Abstract: A method for recovering a valuable material from a lithium-ion secondary battery, the method contains: roasting a lithium-ion secondary battery containing a valuable material in a metal battery case thereof to obtain a roasted material; stirring the roasted material with liquid to separate contents containing the valuable material from the inside of the metal battery case; and sorting the contents separated by the separation and the metal battery case to obtain a recovered material containing the valuable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: DOWA ECO-SYSTEM Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Fujita, Satoshi Kawakami, Yoshihiro Honma, Ryoei Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20150122082
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing slags of non-ferrous metallurgy, containing iron and valuable metals, to produce clean slag that is free of detrimental substances and valuable metals and suitable as it is for use as a raw material or construction material. Slag is reduced in a reduction furnace (18) with the help of reducing agents (19) so far that at least 5% of the iron of the slag is reduced into metal. At the same time, some of the valuable metals, such as zinc, lead, arsenic and cadmium, vaporize. The contents of the reduction furnace (18) are continuously mixed to prevent separation of a metallic phase from the slag. The generated slag-metal mixture (21) is tapped off from the reduction furnace (18), cooled, crushed and ground to a finer size. Finally, a metal fraction (26) is separated from a clean slag (25).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Maija-Leena Metsarinta, Jussi Liipo, Pekka Kurki, Madeleine Scheidema
  • Publication number: 20150105262
    Abstract: The invention provides the Magnetoelectric Effect Material consisted of a single isotope, the alloy of isotopes, or the compound of isotopes. The invention applies enrichment and purification to increase the isotope abundance, to create the density of nuclear exciton by irradiation, and therefore increase the magnetoelectric effect of the crystal of single isotope, the alloy crystal of isotopes and the compound crystal of isotopes. The invention provides the manufacturing method including the selection rules of isotopes, the fabrication processes and the structure of composite materials. The invention belongs to the area of the nuclear science and the improvement of material character. The invention using the transition of entangled multiple photons to achieve the delocalized nuclear exciton. The mix of selected isotopes adjusts the decay lifetime of nuclear exciton and the irradiation efficiency to generate the nuclear exciton.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Yao Cheng
  • Publication number: 20150082942
    Abstract: An objective of the present invention is, in refining a metal or a semiconductor melt, without impairing refining efficiency, to alleviate wear and tear commensurate with unevenness in a crucible caused by instability in melt flow, and to allow safe operation over long periods of time such that leakages from the crucible do not occur. Provided is a metal or semiconductor melt refining method, in which, by using an AC resistance heating heater as a crucible heating method, the melt is heat retained and mixed by a rotating magnetic field which is generated by the resistance heating heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: SILICIO FERROSOLAR S.L.
    Inventors: Yutaka Kishida, Hitoshi Dohnomae, Jiro Kondo, Kiyoshi Goto, Wataru Ohashi
  • Patent number: 8961645
    Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to recovering bond coat materials and barrier coat materials from co-mingled mixtures of bond coat and barrier coat materials (e.g., plasma overspray waste), and from mixtures of co-mingled bond coat and barrier coat materials stripped from a substrate. The disclosure also relates to recovering rare earth elements (e.g., yttrium) from a barrier coat of the co-mingled plasma overspray waste or mixture of co-mingled bond coat and barrier coat materials stripped from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David James Monk, Nicole Tibbetts, David Bucci, Lawrence Kool
  • Patent number: 8961910
    Abstract: There is provided a technology for decreasing copper and tungsten contained in tantalum-containing wastes, and recovering a high-purity tantalum. The present invention is a tantalum recovery method for recovering tantalum from a tantalum-containing waste, the method comprising subjecting the tantalum-containing waste to an acid treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere, thereafter to a roasting treatment and an alkali treatment, and further comprising carrying out a magnetic separation treatment before the acid treatment to thereby separate a tantalum-containing material in the tantalum-containing waste. This is particularly a suitable recovery method for recovering tantalum from wastes containing a relatively large amount of copper and tungsten such as discarded substrates such as printed wiring boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Aoki, Kenji Matsuzaki
  • Publication number: 20150007696
    Abstract: A method of recovering Fe from steel-making slag is disclosed. The method includes the steps of melting steel-making slag having a higher Fe content than iron-making slag by heating the steel-making slag to a first temperature; cooling the molten slag to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature and then maintaining the same at the second temperature for a predetermined time to thus precipitate Fe in the molten slag, thereby forming and growing an Fe-rich phase; rapidly cooling the slag to room temperature; and crushing the solidified slag and magnetically separating a magnetically-susceptible portion from a magnetically-unsusceptible portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Yonsei University
    Inventors: Il Sohn, SungSuk Jung
  • Publication number: 20150000467
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of separating and recovering iron from a waste non-ferrous slag, generated in a process for smelting of non-ferrous metals, including copper, zinc and lead, in which a reducing agent and a reaction catalyst are added to the crushed waste non-ferrous slag, and the mixture is subjected to a reduction reaction, thereby converting amorphous iron oxides, bound to alumina, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, silica, and the like in the waste non-ferrous slag, to crystalline iron (Fe) and iron carbide (Fe2C); the resulting material is crushed to separate iron and iron carbide obtained by the reduction reaction from components such as alumina, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, silica, and the like; the crushed material is separated into fractions by particle size; and the fractions are subjected to wet magnetic separation and dry magnetic separation to separate and recover magnetic iron concentrates from the fractions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Byung-Su Kim, Jae Chun Lee, Soo Bok Jeong, Doyun Shin
  • Patent number: 8888888
    Abstract: A method of controlling a melting process in an electric arc furnace for melting a metallic material. By means of the present disclosure it is possible to minimize desired process properties such as the melting time or the total power consumption of the melting process. The method includes the steps of receiving or collecting measured data of at least one process variable, determining the current state of the process, performing an optimization of the melting process, determining a process input based on the result of the optimization, and controlling the melting process by means of the process input. A control system is also presented herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Lundh, Xiaojing Zhang
  • Patent number: 8876934
    Abstract: An apparatus for electromagnetic stirring of the steel melt in an electrical arc furnace includes two electromagnetic stirrer units, a current supply, and a control unit. The two stirrers are mounted on an outer bottom surface of the electrical arc furnace at opposites sides of a central position of the bottom surface, the current supply is operatively connected to the two electromagnetic stirrer units, and the control unit is operatively connected to the current supply to control the operation of the two electromagnetic stirrer units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Jan-Erik Eriksson, Mohamed Ali Rahmani, Ola Widlund, Olof Hjortstam, Rebei Bel Fdhila, Shiva Sander-Tavallaey, Ulf Sand, Xiaojing Zhang, Tord Kroon
  • Publication number: 20140290433
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for the electromagnetic stirring of electrically conductive fluids in the liquid state and/or in the state of onsetting solidification of the fluid, using a rotating magnetic field that is produced in the horizontal plane of a Lorentz force. The aim is to achieve an intensive three-dimensional flow on the inside of the fluid for mixing in the liquid state up to the direct vicinity of solidifying fronts, and to simultaneously ensure an undisturbed, free surface of the fluid. The solution is to change the direction of rotation of the magnetic field rotating in the horizontal plane at regular time intervals in the form of a period duration, wherein the frequency of the directional change of movement of the magnetic field vector is adjusted such that in the state of mixing the liquid fluid a period duration is adjusted between two directional changes of the magnetic field during a time interval as a function of the adjustment time with the condition (I) 0.5·ti.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: PETR A. NIKRITYUK, SVEN ECKERT, DIRK RAEBIGER, BERND WILLERS, KERSTIN ECKERT, ROGER GRUNDMANN, GUNTER GERBETH
  • Patent number: 8834593
    Abstract: A method of enriching the iron content of low grade iron ore bearing materials has been developed which produces a high iron ore concentrate suitable for processing into pig iron and steel. The process includes reducing the low grade iron ore bearing materials to a fine particulate form and treating a water slurry of this material by applying a combination of ultrasonic treatments in a plurality of high and low intensity magnetic separation operations to remove interfering materials and concentrate magnetic and paramagnetic iron bearing materials into a high grade ore stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Superior Mineral Resources LLC
    Inventors: Howard W. Hilshorst, Gregory D. Lindahl, James A. Hecimovich
  • Publication number: 20140251084
    Abstract: A method for reducing a chromium containing material, comprising: combining the chromium containing material comprising chromium oxide with a carbonaceous reductant to form a chromium containing mixture; delivering the chromium containing mixture to a moving hearth furnace and reducing the chromium containing mixture to form a reduced chromium containing mixture; delivering the reduced chromium containing mixture to a smelting furnace; and separating the reduced chromium containing mixture into chromium metal and slag. The method also comprises agglomerating the chromium containing mixture in a granulator or the like. The chromium containing mixture has an average particle size of less than about 200 mesh (about 75 ?m).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: MIDREX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Vincent F. CHEVRIER, Russell KAKALEY
  • Patent number: 8820533
    Abstract: A method of sorting mined material for subsequent processing to recover valuable material, such as valuable metals, from the mined material is disclosed. The method includes a combination of selective breakage of mined material, for example, by using microwaves and/or high pressure grinding rolls, subsequent size separation, and then particle sorting of a coarse fraction of the separated material based on differential heating and thermal imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Raymond Walter Shaw, Barry Lavin
  • Publication number: 20140202284
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnesium-based alloy, and to a method for producing same. The method comprises the steps of: melting a magnesium alloy into a liquid state; adding a silicon compound to said molten magnesium alloy; exhausting the silicon compound through a full reaction between said molten magnesium alloy and said added silicon compound such that the silicon compound does not substantially remain in the magnesium alloy; and exhausting the silicon produced as a result of said exhaustion in the precious step such that the silicon may not substantially remain in said magnesium alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Shae K. Kim, Young Ok Yoon, Jin Kyu Lee, Jung Ho Seo, Hyun Kyu Im
  • Publication number: 20140165783
    Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to recovering bond coat materials and barrier coat materials from co-mingled mixtures of bond coat and barrier coat materials (e.g., plasma overspray waste), and from mixtures of co-mingled bond coat and barrier coat materials stripped from a substrate. The disclosure also relates to recovering rare earth elements (e.g., yttrium) from a barrier coat of the co-mingled plasma overspray waste or mixture of co-mingled bond coat and barrier coat materials stripped from the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: David James MONK, Nicole TIBBETTS, David BUCCI, Lawrence KOOL
  • Patent number: 8741023
    Abstract: A method of enriching the iron content of low-grade iron-bearing ore materials has been developed which produces a high iron ore concentrate suitable for processing into pig iron and steel. The process includes reducing the low-grade iron-bearing ore materials to a fine particulate form and treating a water slurry of this material by applying a combination of ultrasonic treatments in a plurality of high and low intensity magnetic separation operations to remove interfering materials and concentrate magnetic and paramagnetic iron-bearing materials into a high-grade ore stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Superior Mineral Resources LLC
    Inventors: Howard W. Hilshorst, Gregory D. Lindahl, James A. Hecimovich
  • Publication number: 20140137703
    Abstract: The present invention describes a process for removing uranium from a copper concentrate by magnetic separation (low and high field) to reduce the uranium content to commercially acceptable levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: VALE S.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Euclides Jaques MARQUES, Wesley José Da Silva, Mauricio Guimarães Bergerman, Wendel Johnson Rodrigues, Keila Lane de Carvalho Gonçalves
  • Patent number: 8728196
    Abstract: A semi-liquid metal processing and sensing device comprising a crucible that is at least partially encircled by at least one induction coil. The one or more induction coils can be water cooled. The one or more induction coils can be designed to generate a variable power and/or variable frequency magnetic field which can be modulated to control the cooling of a molten metal charge in the crucible from the liquidus temperature to a selected heat content, resistivity and/or viscosity. The magnetic field can be designed to induce toroidal agitation of the metal charge in the crucible. The semi-liquid condition is sensed and can be actively controlled by the induction power supply via real time or non-real time analysis of electrical feedback signals that are obtained from the induction coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Ajax TOCCO Magnethermic Corporation
    Inventor: Alan A. Koch
  • Publication number: 20140112823
    Abstract: A method to recover gold lost in roaster calcine-leach tailings, due to the formation of cyanide refractory compounds or morphologies during the roasting process. The process can include acid leaching of magnetic concentrate from roaster leach tailings, combining the acid leach slurry to the pre-acidulation tank for pressure oxidation feed, acid pressure oxidation of the pressure oxidation feed, and recovery of gold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Barrick Gold Corporation
    Inventors: Qiankun Wang, Nathan Stubina, Wayne Douglas, Todd Esplin, Jodi Esplin, Sajan Bhakta
  • Patent number: 8696785
    Abstract: A method for recycling a battery pack includes steps of: roasting the battery pack that houses a battery assembly that is in a charged condition, as it is, dismantling the roasted battery pack and separating the battery pack into unit cells and parts other than the unit cells, comminuting the unit cells obtained by separation, washing and screening the comminuted cells, dehydrating a slurry below a sieve after screening and recovering metals used for positive and negative electrodes, and recovering metal containing nickel by magnetically separating metal remaining on the sieve after screening, using a magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuji Iida
  • Patent number: 8673048
    Abstract: Iron impurities may be removed from volumes of molten aluminum or magnesium metals or alloys by applying a static magnetic field gradient to each of the molten metal volumes, or melts. The magnetic field gradient is applied to each of the melts so that separate-phase iron impurities suspended therein will move in the direction of the applied magnetic field and become concentrated in a predetermined region of the of the melts, thereby forming an iron-rich region. The remaining iron-depleted region of each of the melts can be physically separated from the as-formed iron-rich region and cast into shaped articles of manufacture or into semi-finished articles for further processing. Such articles will have a lower iron-content than the original molten metal volumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Guangling Song, Jan F. Herbst, Anil K. Sachdev
  • Patent number: 8662310
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for increasing the concentration of platinum group metals in urban waste material. The method comprises obtaining particles of urban waste material; screening the particles of urban waste material by size,—selecting particles of urban waste material that lie within a defined size range; and processing the selected particles using at least one physical or chemical technique whereby to increase the concentration of platinum group metals to at least 5 ppm. The invention also relates to an apparatus for increasing the concentration of platinum group metals in particulate urban waste material. The apparatus comprises: a drying unit (4), a particle size screening unit (5); and one or more processing units for effecting platinum group metal concentration of the particulate urban waste material by physical and/or chemical techniques, in particular a magnetic separation unit (7) and a froth flotation cell (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: The University of Birmingham
    Inventor: Angela Janet Murray
  • Publication number: 20140033867
    Abstract: A method of enriching the iron content of low grade iron ore bearing materials has been developed which produces a high iron ore concentrate suitable for processing into pig iron and steel. The process includes reducing the low grade iron ore bearing materials to a fine particulate form and treating a water slurry of this material by applying a combination of ultrasonic treatments in a plurality of high and low intensity magnetic separation operations to remove interfering materials and concentrate magnetic and paramagnetic iron bearing materials into a high grade ore stock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Superior Mineral Resources LLC
    Inventors: Howard W. Hilshorst, Gregory D. Lindahl, James A. Hecimovich
  • Publication number: 20130336858
    Abstract: There is provided a technology for decreasing copper and tungsten contained in tantalum-containing wastes, and recovering a high-purity tantalum. The present invention is a tantalum recovery method for recovering tantalum from a tantalum-containing waste, the method comprising subjecting the tantalum-containing waste to an acid treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere, thereafter to a roasting treatment and an alkali treatment, and further comprising carrying out a magnetic separation treatment before the acid treatment to thereby separate a tantalum-containing material in the tantalum-containing waste. This is particularly a suitable recovery method for recovering tantalum from wastes containing a relatively large amount of copper and tungsten such as discarded substrates such as printed wiring boards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: MITSUI MINING & SMELTING CO. LTD
    Inventors: Tatsuya Aoki, Kenji Matsuzaki
  • Publication number: 20130276582
    Abstract: A physical process for recovering iron from magnetic cementitious spherical particles generated from metallurgical by-products such as slag from a basic oxygen converter (B.O.F.S) by applying a thermal process assisted by Ar—He plasma, which allows the microstructural and morphological transformation of these compounds based on iron, resulting in the generation of magnetic phases, among others. The separation process is based on the classification of the particles according to their new magnetic properties. Thus, when applying a magnetic field, the particles are separated into two fractions: a highly magnetic one and with low cementitious properties, and another fraction with high cementitious properties and almost no magnetic properties. The highly magnetic fraction is mixed with an aqueous medium to form an agglomerate and facilitate its transportation to be reefed to an iron melting process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIÓN EN QUÍMICA APLICADA
  • Publication number: 20130269483
    Abstract: An apparatus for electromagnetic stirring of the steel melt in an electrical arc furnace includes two electromagnetic stirrer units, a current supply, and a control unit. The two stirrers are mounted on an outer bottom surface of the electrical arc furnace at opposites sides of a central position of the bottom surface, the current supply is operatively connected to the two electromagnetic stirrer units, and the control unit is operatively connected to the current supply to control the operation of the two electromagnetic stirrer units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Jan-Erik Eriksson, Mohamed Ali Rahmani, Ola Widlund, Olof Hjortstam, Rebei Bel Fdhila, Shiva Sander-Tavallaey, Ulf Sand, Xiaojing Zhang, Tord Kroon
  • Patent number: 8545594
    Abstract: A method of enriching the iron content of low grade iron ore bearing materials has been developed which produces a high iron ore concentrate suitable for processing into pig iron and steel. The process includes reducing the low grade iron ore bearing materials to a fine particulate form and treating a water slurry of this material by applying a combination of ultrasonic treatments in a plurality of high and low intensity magnetic separation operations to remove interfering materials and concentrate magnetic and paramagnetic iron bearing materials into a high grade ore stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Superior Mineral Resources LLC
    Inventors: Howard W. Hilshorst, Gregory D. Lindahl, James A. Hecimovich
  • Publication number: 20130145899
    Abstract: Iron impurities may be removed from volumes of molten aluminum or magnesium metals or alloys by applying a static magnetic field gradient to each of the molten metal volumes, or melts. The magnetic field gradient is applied to each of the melts so that separate-phase iron impurities suspended therein will move in the direction of the applied magnetic field and become concentrated in a predetermined region of the of the melts, thereby forming an iron-rich region. The remaining iron-depleted region of each of the melts can be physically separated from the as-formed iron-rich region and cast into shaped articles of manufacture or into semi-finished articles for further processing. Such articles will have a lower iron-content than the original molten metal volumes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: GUANGLING SONG, JAN F. HERBST, ANIL K. SACHDEV
  • Publication number: 20130118306
    Abstract: A process for producing hot metal includes partially reducing granular raw materials containing iron oxide with a carbonaceous reducing agent in a fluidized bed reactor at a temperature of at least 850° C. so as to obtain a reduced mixture. The reduced mixture is cooled to between 600° C. and 800° C. in a heat exchanger apparatus using a preheated process gas as a cooling medium that is preheated to between 300° C. and 500° C. before being introduced into the heat exchanger apparatus. The reduced mixture is then supplied to a smelting reduction unit via a discharge system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Nepper, Tobias Stefan
  • Publication number: 20130118305
    Abstract: A plasma separator and mass filter system is described. In some aspects the system is designed and configured to cause a plasma in a vacuum chamber and to move charged particles therein axially and circumferentially towards one or more sets of collectors. Waste material is ejected from the system while the one or more collectors yield one or more corresponding products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Advanced Magnetic Processes Inc.
    Inventor: Advanced Magnetic Processes Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130118307
    Abstract: A device for producing granular metal iron by placing a mass of a raw material mixture comprising a substance containing iron oxide and a carbonaceous reducing agent onto a heath of a moving heath type heating furnace and heating the mass to reduce iron oxide in the mass, thereby producing the granular metal iron. The device comprises, in addition to the moving heath type heating furnace, a sieving machine, a first magnetic separator and a second magnetic separator, and also comprises a passage through which a discharged substance from the moving heath type heating furnace is supplied to the sieving machine, a passage through which crude granules that have been sieved by the sieving machine are supplied to the first magnetic separator, and a passage through which fine granules that have been sieved by the sieving machine are supplied to the second magnetic separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL LTD)
    Inventors: Shoichi Kikuchi, Osamu Tsuge
  • Publication number: 20130047783
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for the extraction of gold and other precious metals and elements from ore, as well as purification of water. Heavy elements are separated from lighter elements during the rotation of any conductive liquid in a chamber. To provide proper conductivity seawater can be used as the main conductive liquid. An electric field and hence a current is generated in a radial direction in a magnetic field generated in an axial direction, perpendicular to the radial direction, with respect to a chamber. The conductive liquid is provided to the chamber and is subjected to the current, and the conductive liquid is caused to rotate in the chamber by the current interacting with the magnetic field. Due to the Lorentz force, proper rotation is achieved without any mechanical motion. Rotation of the liquid in the chamber causes separation of heavy elements from light element caused by centrifugal forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventor: Alfred Y. Wong
  • Patent number: 8377165
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to the extraction of rare earth elements and heavy metals from geothermal fluids used in geothermal electrical production. The invention provides systems and methods for extracting these elements from hydrothermal products by the application of one or more forces that affect different components of a condensate differently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Shale and Sands Oil Recovery LLC
    Inventor: Thomas B. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20130032003
    Abstract: A method of enriching the iron content of low grade iron ore bearing materials has been developed which produces a high iron ore concentrate suitable for processing into pig iron and steel. The process includes reducing the low grade iron ore bearing materials to a fine particulate form and treating a water slurry of this material by applying a combination of ultrasonic treatments in a plurality of high and low intensity magnetic separation operations to remove interfering materials and concentrate magnetic and paramagnetic iron bearing materials into a high grade ore stock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: SUPERIOR MINERAL RESOURCES LLC
    Inventors: Howard W. Hilshorst, Gregory D. Lindahl, James A. Hecimovich
  • Publication number: 20130032004
    Abstract: A method of enriching the iron content of low-grade iron-bearing ore materials has been developed which produces a high iron ore concentrate suitable for processing into pig iron and steel. The process includes reducing the low-grade iron-bearing ore materials to a fine particulate form and treating a water slurry of this material by applying a combination of ultrasonic treatments in a plurality of high and low intensity magnetic separation operations to remove interfering materials and concentrate magnetic and paramagnetic iron-bearing materials into a high-grade ore stock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: Superior Mineral Resources LLC
    Inventors: Howard W. Hilshorst, Gregory D. Lindahl, James A. Hecimovich