Optimization of the Geometry of a Free-Fall Separator Equipped with Two Flexible Electrodes
Résumé
The free-fall electrostatic separator is widely used for sorting plastic particles obtained from waste. The incorporation of flexible electrodes in this installation and the appropriate adjustment of their shapes make it possible to control the particle flow in the electrostatic separation zone, reducing particle-electrode impacts and increasing the quality of recovered products. In this study, we introduce a methodology to optimize the shape and position of flexible electrodes in a free-fall separator. The optimization criterion considered is the horizontal deviation of particles collected in the separator. The electrodes are modeled using Bézier curves with four control points, which provide an infinite number of electrode shapes by adjusting their positions. During the optimization process, only feasible configurations that meet certain constraints are considered. For each feasible configuration, a simulation model is used to obtain the trajectory of test particles, which is experimentally validated using a high-speed camera before being used in the optimization process. A genetic algorithm is used to determine the optimal configuration, which is defined by the position of the four control points of the Bézier curve. This paper aims to achieve two main objectives: (i) To experimentally validate the numerical model of particle behavior in free-fall separators equipped with two flexible electrodes using a high-speed camera. (ii) To use the model obtained from the genetic algorithm to determine the optimal shape and position of the electrodes.