XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 491
particle-particle contact areas are appreciably lower than for
the terrestrial case. The 450° design offers optimal particle-
wall contacts as there are not statistically significant differ-
ences with the 540°, 630°, and 720° designs. Furthermore,
the particle-particle contact area is significantly lower for the
450° design compared to all the other designs considered.
The proportion of particles that experienced parti-
cle-particle interactions were compared for each design
(Figure 11). This comparison was made to ensure that the
low particle-particle area accumulation rate of the 450°
design was not due to a large proportion of particles not
interacting with other particles. Furthermore, Figure 12
presents the accumulation of particle-particle and particle-
wall contact area, excluding any of the particles with zero
net particle-particle contact area. These analyses both sug-
gest that the 450° design is optimal, and not an artefact of
the flow characteristics.
This study highlights the adaptability and flexibility of
our optimisation methodology to extraterrestrial environ-
ments. By modifying the baseline design to account for
lunar conditions, we’ve demonstrated that the principles
guiding our optimisation approach remain effective, even
under the Moon’s environmental constraints.
CONCLUSION
In this study, we explore the design optimisation of tribo-
chargers for granular material separation, demonstrating
their effectiveness across both terrestrial and lunar environ-
ments. The research has established the adaptability of our
design optimisation approach to different materials, sizes,
and extraterrestrial conditions, notably on the Moon. This
work not only advances our understanding of triboelectric
charging but also opens avenues for its application in space
resource utilisation and sets a foundation for future devel-
opments in extraterrestrial mining technologies.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This research has been made possible through the sup-
port of the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR)
under Industrial Fellowship Grant 12489764.
The authors acknowledge the support of the Natural
Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
(NSERC) [ref: 411291661]. Cette recherche a été financée
par le Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en
génie du Canada (CRSNG), [réf: 411291661].
The authors acknowledge the generous support of Itasca
Consulting Group for the provision of a PFC license as well
as support and mentorship from Dr D.O. Potyondy for Dr
J.N. Rasera through the Itasca Educational Partnership
Program.
LIST OF SYMBOLS
σ Charge transfer per unit area, C/m2
c l Charging efficiency
0 f Permittivity of free space, F/m
E
contact Electrostatic field strength at point of contact, V/m
Δq Quantity of charge transferred, C
δe Charge transfer limit, m
Figure 11. Proportion of the total particles in each sample that experienced particle-particle interactions
whilst passing through the tribocharger
particle-particle contact areas are appreciably lower than for
the terrestrial case. The 450° design offers optimal particle-
wall contacts as there are not statistically significant differ-
ences with the 540°, 630°, and 720° designs. Furthermore,
the particle-particle contact area is significantly lower for the
450° design compared to all the other designs considered.
The proportion of particles that experienced parti-
cle-particle interactions were compared for each design
(Figure 11). This comparison was made to ensure that the
low particle-particle area accumulation rate of the 450°
design was not due to a large proportion of particles not
interacting with other particles. Furthermore, Figure 12
presents the accumulation of particle-particle and particle-
wall contact area, excluding any of the particles with zero
net particle-particle contact area. These analyses both sug-
gest that the 450° design is optimal, and not an artefact of
the flow characteristics.
This study highlights the adaptability and flexibility of
our optimisation methodology to extraterrestrial environ-
ments. By modifying the baseline design to account for
lunar conditions, we’ve demonstrated that the principles
guiding our optimisation approach remain effective, even
under the Moon’s environmental constraints.
CONCLUSION
In this study, we explore the design optimisation of tribo-
chargers for granular material separation, demonstrating
their effectiveness across both terrestrial and lunar environ-
ments. The research has established the adaptability of our
design optimisation approach to different materials, sizes,
and extraterrestrial conditions, notably on the Moon. This
work not only advances our understanding of triboelectric
charging but also opens avenues for its application in space
resource utilisation and sets a foundation for future devel-
opments in extraterrestrial mining technologies.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This research has been made possible through the sup-
port of the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR)
under Industrial Fellowship Grant 12489764.
The authors acknowledge the support of the Natural
Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
(NSERC) [ref: 411291661]. Cette recherche a été financée
par le Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en
génie du Canada (CRSNG), [réf: 411291661].
The authors acknowledge the generous support of Itasca
Consulting Group for the provision of a PFC license as well
as support and mentorship from Dr D.O. Potyondy for Dr
J.N. Rasera through the Itasca Educational Partnership
Program.
LIST OF SYMBOLS
σ Charge transfer per unit area, C/m2
c l Charging efficiency
0 f Permittivity of free space, F/m
E
contact Electrostatic field strength at point of contact, V/m
Δq Quantity of charge transferred, C
δe Charge transfer limit, m
Figure 11. Proportion of the total particles in each sample that experienced particle-particle interactions
whilst passing through the tribocharger