Electrodynamic Sorting of Light Metals and Alloys

Electrodynamic Sorting (EDX™), or variable-frequency eddy-current sorting, is an evolution of sorting technology aimed primarily at light-metal and aluminum alloy recycling. EDX™ is being developed by the Department of Metallurgical Engineering, University of Utah, under an ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency — Energy) contract. From a purely physical perspective, the EDX system operates by generating an alternating magnetic field in the gap of a toroidal ferrite core. As metallic particles pass through the gap, eddy currents are induced by the presence of the alternating field, which repel the particle from the gap. The velocity at which they exist then varies with distinct physical properties like electrical conductivity, mass density, excitation frequency, and geometry. In this presentation, we describe the fundamental physics of the phenomenon, including simulation data with CST software and results in pilot scale (100 kg/h) systems. Finally, the results on auto shredder scrap mix is presented.