Simulation research of eddy current separation technology in scrap copper based on ANSYS finite element method

Abstract

Copper mineral resources are seriously insufficient in China. Scrap copper recycling is an inevitable choice to solve the shortage problem of the copper resources. To achieve rational utilization of the scrap copper in high quality, it's greatly significant to separate the scrap copper finely. In this paper, modeling and simulation analysis for the separation of the scrap copper with different materials by eddy current sensor based on ANSYS finite element method are made. The detection model for three situations such as the surface of the scrap copper is smooth and clean, coating and concavo-convex about four kinds of scrap copper materials (red copper, brass, manganin and bronze) are involved respectively in magnetic field lines, contour of magnetic flux intensity and equivalent impedance of sensor coil. Intercomparison and analysis of the simulation results testify that eddy current separation technology of the scrap copper is feasible. The simulation results are validated by the experiments.