Guide
Wet Drum Magnetic Separator: Working Principle and Fit
A wet drum magnetic separator uses a rotating permanent-magnet drum to pull strongly magnetic minerals out of a slurry. This guide explains how it works, what it is good at and where an electromagnetic machine takes over.
What a wet drum separator is
The permanent magnetic drum (cylinder) type separator is built from a frame, a permanent magnet cylinder, a transmission device, an ore feeding box, a tank body, a flushing water device and a magnetic-system adjusting device. The magnetic system hangs on the mandrel and the supporting point falls directly on the axle seat. With the adjusting device, the deflection angle of the magnetic system can be changed within a range.
How it works
- Feed Slurry enters the tank through the feeding box.
- Capture In the magnetic zone, strongly magnetic minerals are attracted to the drum surface while weakly magnetic and non-magnetic particles are discharged.
- Carry The magnetic minerals rotate with the drum out of the magnetic zone.
- Flush Flushing water washes them into the concentrate trough, completing the separation.
Why the drum diameter matters
Because the cylinder has a large diameter, feeding and discharging are smooth, steady and uniform, and the separation path is long. The speed is also lower, so operation is more stable and reliable, the noise is small and maintenance is convenient.
Where it fits in a slurry line
A wet drum removes strongly magnetic material. It is a pre-stage, not a replacement for a high-gradient machine: on a conventional wet feldspar line a permanent magnetic separator takes out strongly magnetic material first, and an electromagnetic slurry separator then removes fine and weakly magnetic iron such as biotite, amphibole and tourmaline. Weakly magnetic impurities need a high-intensity field, which a permanent drum does not provide. See magnetic separators for slurry for the comparison.
PTMS wet drum models
- Permanent Magnetic Cylinder Type Magnetic Separator
- Permanent Magnetic Roller Type Magnetic Separator
- Magnet Roller (Permanent Drum Separator)
Detailed technical parameters for these models are not yet published; contact us for the current datasheet. We configure each machine for your material after a free sample test.
Wet Drum Magnetic Separator: questions
How does a wet drum magnetic separator work?
Slurry enters the magnetic zone of a rotating permanent-magnet drum. Strongly magnetic minerals are attracted to the drum surface, while weakly magnetic and non-magnetic particles are discharged. The magnetic particles rotate out of the field and are flushed into the concentrate trough by flushing water.
What does a wet drum separator remove?
Strongly magnetic minerals from slurries. Weakly magnetic impurities such as biotite, amphibole and tourmaline need a high-intensity field and a high-gradient matrix, which is the job of an electromagnetic slurry separator.
Wet drum or electromagnetic slurry separator?
Use a wet drum as a pre-stage for strongly magnetic material; use an electromagnetic slurry separator for fine and weakly magnetic iron, for example in kaolin, feldspar and ceramic glaze. Many lines use both, drum first.
Can the magnetic field of a wet drum be adjusted?
The deflection angle of the magnetic system can be adjusted within a range using the magnetic-system adjusting device. The magnet itself is permanent, so field strength is fixed by the magnetic system.
What capacity do your wet drum separators have?
Detailed parameters are not yet published for these models. Send material, particle size, capacity and solids content and we reply with a matched model.
Related guides
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Tell us your material, particle size, capacity and target iron level. We usually reply with a matched model and price within 24 hours.