Electric / thermal mineral separating method 2

[RadioGold]

Hello my name is Colin Wilson and I am the inventor of a new mineral separation process.

http://www.coldgold.rotoquad.com

I am looking for help and/or a partnership in this endeavor.
As a group I can not think of a better place to start. To test this new method of mineral recovery 3 things are required:

1) The tank circuit.
2) A high power/high frequency oscillator.
3) The physical unit including the conveyance system.

The tank circuit requires good capacitors and a water cooled coil.
The HF oscillator is where I really need the help.
The physical unit can consist of EM shielding and a manual feed system to begin with.

In brief, induction heating relies on eddy currents and the “skin effect” to heat conductive materials. In the case of ferrous material the job is somewhat easier as hysteresis and a lower conductivity also comes into play.

I have small concentrate samples from 3 gold mines (the Yukon, Nevada and Cape Breton).
These samples are very typical with the gold particles averaging about 80 um (.003”).
To rapidly heat particles of this size and conductivity, frequencies in the 20-30 Mhz range are required. Power levels in the low kw range are also required (for a small test base).
Platinum would be easier given its relatively low conductivity but I have little knowledge, at the moment, of how the ore is prepared etc.
I also have a small machine shop and the ability to fabricate and program circuits based on the PIC microcontroller.
Initial tests can be conducted with somewhat larger particles and less conductive material (such as brass) to provide some initial data.
From a purely cost point of view I’ve been considering a spark gap oscillator for the first tests?
Any input etc. would be appreciated.

 

[electricuwe]

To avoid problems due to electromagnetic interference you should operate your system at an IMS (Industrial, Medical, Scientific) frequency. 27.12 MHz would fit in your case.

A generator and a tank circuit (usually called match or matchbox in RF power applications) you can find here:

http://www.advancedenergy.com/en/products.html

As they are based in Colorado they should have some affinity to mining for gold.

 

[VEBill]

"...I've been considering a spark gap oscillator..."

No. The electromagnetic spectrum is a valuable public resource. You're not permitted to pollute the HF spectrum and potentially interfere with critical communications systems. Banish the thought from your mind.

In the short term, you could purchase an HF "linear" amplifier (up to 2kw is common). As already mentioned, you will have to confine yourself to ISM frequencies, and double-check the rules. One minor roadblock you'll run into is that the 27 MHz range is blocked by default in most HF amplifiers; this is to discourage illegal CB activities. But they offer 'export' versions without this feature; or instructions to remove it (for authorized users).

In the long run, put Nautel (located in Nova Scotia) on your list of potential partners. They specialize in extremely high power solid state amplifiers (hundreds of kw). They're even involved with a large, serious project related to RF-heated plasma drive for space travel.

 

[electricuwe]

A linear amplifier will be much more expensive and have poorer efficiency than the fixed frequency generators I have suggested. These supplies are typically used for several processes in semiconductor industry and one popular circuit in these designs is the Class E stage using an RF-Mosfet in switchmode operation to keep a resonant tank oszillating. Power level is varied by variable supply voltage of the Class-E stage.

As EMI rules restrict you to the use of IMS frequency there is no need for linear amplfiers.

 

[VEBill]

I put "linear" in quotes for that *exact* reason.

The linearity is obviously not important, but the word "linear" will probably get a lot more hits on eBay than would searching for a 2kw class, 27.12 MHz "fixed frequency generator". 2kw class "linear" amplifiers are readily available on the used Ham radio market for $500 to $1500 price range (and "linear" is the deal search term). One would also need an exciter ("transceiver", receiver section not actually required).

I made an assumption that industrial gear is probably more difficult to find cheap / used, and I also assumed that brand new would cost more than $2k. The OP should obviously consider all possibilities to meet his short term requirements. Perhaps he will get lucky and find industrial gear within his budget. If so it would be a much better choice.

I apologize for being "overly-brief" with my initial response. It's always a decision to be made about how much detail to include in each post.

 

[Higgler]

why design a transmitter, when you can buy it already made from induction heating experts (partner with them, get the hardware for free);

http://www.fivesgroup.com/FivesCele...s/Staticinverters/Pages/Static-inverters.aspx

doesn't look like they make the specific applicators. You'd need to design a water cooled inductive heater. Most I saw are physically small to concentrate the field on the item they want to melt.

The whole part about the ice, explain that more, sounds odd to use ice as a collection material.

Interesting subject, hope it pans out for you.
There is a website forum on melting gold with induction heating.

http://goldrefiningforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=84&t=8329

 

[electricuwe]

I do not think that any induction heating supplier will supply hardware for free, however Celes not only sells, but also offers equipment for rent (at least they did in the past).

But Celes activities are more in the medium frequency and low RF range. As far as I know the do not offer solid state generators for 20..30 MHz.

 

[RadioGold]

To electricuwe, VE1BLL, Higgler

Thank you all for your replies. I suppose I could buy 1 or more CB amps on eBay?
But that would only be the beginning of what’s required. Also I do not have a HF oscilloscope.
Because this is not my particular area of expertise (HF / KW equipment) I’m really hoping to find some like minded person(s) / company to get interested in this process. It’s been more than a century since the last new process for recovering precious metals was introduced. I know I just don’t have the time/resources to do much more than perhaps a micro sized test. Since this is a known process I’m not sure what this would prove?

I base the possible success of this process on the following:

The specific heat of gold is .126 j/g/c
So to raise 1 troy oz. (31.1g) 100c would require about 400 watts.
At $1300 / oz. and $0.12/kw this is 27,000 times less than the break even point.

The description on my website is somewhat out of date. The use of ice as the entrapment material was suggested as an attention getter as well as the fact that any loss would not be a concern from a cost point of view. Newer designs include a conveyor (covered in a wax layer) moving through the center of a flattened coil.
I will follow up with the companies that you have suggested in the hope that this will grab the attention of the right person. I have currently contacted more than 20 companies that I thought might have an interest.

 

[Higgler]

Since so many of these "induction heaters" exist already. And they are robust units, i.e. you can't easily break them.

Find someone who has one, take a sample of soil/gold, or make a sample, and try it out on a small scale.

If you get results, take video of it, then go onto the next step. All the while keeping it as confidential as possible.