Evaluation of the efficiency of an electromagnet for attracting polymetallic particulate matter at the laboratory level - 2024

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the efficiency of an electromagnet for attracting polymetallic particulate matter under laboratory conditions. Three electromagnet prototypes were developed with 40, 70, and 110 turns, the latter generating the largest magnetic field, in accordance with Ampere's Law. For the experiments, metal waste from milling machines, cutting discs, and grinding machines was used, which were classified according to particle size ranges: 50–150 μm, 10–50 μm, and 1–20 μm, respectively. Statistical analyses such as the Shapiro–Wilk test, Levene test, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey HSD test were applied, verifying the normality and homogeneity of the data. The results showed that the electromagnet was more efficient at retaining larger particles: 48.02% for the milling machine, 46.73% for the cutting disc, and 21.45% for the grinding wheel. It is concluded that the size of the particulate material and the electromagnet design directly influence the attraction efficiency, validating the feasibility of its application in industrial settings.