15. 10. 2022
Improper cleaning of a chute magnet
Problem
After the installation of any magnetic separator it is always necessary to find out how long it takes to reach the limit of the separator's capture capacity (i. e., how quickly the separator becomes clogged with ferromagnetic particles) = determine the optimal cleaning interval. However, the operator cleaned the separator only irregularly, what we discovered during a random separator inspection (see the attached photo). A magnetic separator filled with iron particles in such a way can no longer fulfill its function (i. e. separate iron contaminants from the processed material). And there is another risk: if the layer of the already trapped ferrous particles is too high, the magnetic field cannot hold them anymore and the flowing material may carry them away into the already cleaned product…
Solution
In case of materials conveyed by gravity the cleaning interval depends mainly on the degree of ferrous contamination. Therefore, it is always necessary to find out how long it takes to reach the limit of the separator's capture capacity. And the separators with manual cleaning are to be necessarily cleaned manually at these intervals.
Expert recommendation
Almost all kinds of our magnetic separators with manual cleaning are equipped with an easy cleaning system. This allows for a quick and easy removal of trapped ferrous particles. However, in any case we recommend that you clean the separators in shorter cleaning intervals, as the more magnetic particles are accumulated and held by the magnetic core, the more difficult and physically demanding (despite the easy cleaning system) is to demagnetize them (i. e. move them out of the reach of the magnetic field). For applications that would require more frequent cleaning intervals, it is preferable to use magnetic separators with automatic cleaning (that at the same time eliminate the risk of human errors).