Purifying Apparatus and Purifying Method

Abstract

A vessel in which an electroconductive liquid including impurities is stored has an electromagnetic force generation device which produces an electromagnetic force that circulates the electroconductive liquid in the electroconductive liquid, and a discharge device which discharges a non-metallic impurity and a deemed non-metallic impurity and collected in a low-pressure portion based on a pressure difference in the electroconductive liquid produced by the electromagnetic force. The non-metallic impurity and the deemed non-metallic impurity are collected in the low-pressure portion, e.g., a liquid level to be separated by the electromagnetic force.

1 . A purifying apparatus comprising:
 a vessel in which an electroconductive liquid including impurities is stored;   an electromagnetic force generation device which produces a downward or upward electromagnetic force that circulates the electroconductive liquid;   a discharge device which discharges the impurities collected in a low-pressure portion based on a pressure difference in the electroconductive liquid produced by the electromagnetic force; and   a magnetic force generation device including a ferromagnetic structure through which the electroconductive liquid can pass arranged in a circulating flow of the electroconductive liquid in the vessel, and a direct-current magnetic field generation material which gives a direct-current magnetic field to the ferromagnetic structure arranged on an outer side of the vessel;   wherein a metallic impurity circulated together with the electroconductive liquid by the electromagnetic force is caused to adhere to the ferromagnetic structure by a magnetic force which is in proportion to a magnetic field gradient formed around the ferromagnetic structure by applying of the direct-current magnetic field.   
     
     
         2 . The purifying apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic force generation device generates the downward electromagnetic force. 
     
     
         3 . The purifying apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the ferromagnetic structure is disposed near a position where a flow direction of the circulating current of the electroconductive liquid is turned from the upward direction to the downward direction. 
     
     
         4 . The purifying apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic force generation device is a three-phase alternating-current coil, and arranged around the vessel to form a downward or upward traveling magnetic field in the electroconductive liquid. 
     
     
         5 . The purifying apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a cooler which cools the vessel is provided outside the vessel near a liquid level of the electroconductive liquid, and a heater is provided on a lower side of the cooler to enable temperature adjustment. 
     
     
         6 . The purifying apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the electroconductive liquid comprises a liquid metal. 
     
     
         7 . The purifying apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the electroconductive liquid comprises molten aluminum. 
     
     
         8 . The purifying apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the electroconductive liquid comprises an element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Mg, Zr, and Si. 
     
     
         9 . The purifying apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the discharge device is a pipe. 
     
     
         10 . The purifying apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the ferromagnetic structure comprises iron rods. 
     
     
         11 . The purifying apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the iron rods have a high magnetic permeability. 
     
     
         12 . The purifying apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the iron rods into a lattice structure. 
     
     
         13 . The purifying apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a heat-shielding plate that surrounds the vessel, said heat shielding plate adapted to prevent radiant heat from the vessel 
     
     
         14 . The purifying apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the heat-shielding plate is provided between the vessel and the electromagnetic force generation device and between the vessel and the magnetic force generation device. 
     
     
         15 . The purifying apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the heat-shielding plate is adapted to protect the electromagnetic force generation device and the magnetic force generation device against the radiant heat from the vessel. 
     
     
         16 . The purifying apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the heat-shielding plate has a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         17 . The purifying apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the heat-shielding plate is formed of a non-ferrous metal. 
     
     
         18 . The purifying apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the heat-shielding plate is formed of a non-ferrous metal selected from the group consisting of austenitic stainless steel, copper, or aluminum. 
     
     
         19 . The purifying apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the heat-shielding plate has a relative permeability of approximately 1. 
     
     
         20 . A purifying apparatus comprising:
 a vessel in which an electroconductive liquid including impurities is stored;   an electromagnetic force generation device which produces a downward or upward electromagnetic force that circulates the electroconductive liquid;   a discharge device which discharges the impurities collected in a low-pressure portion based on a pressure difference in the electroconductive liquid produced by the electromagnetic force; and   a magnetic force generation device including a ferromagnetic structure through which the electroconductive liquid can pass arranged in a circulating flow of the electroconductive liquid in the vessel, and a direct-current magnetic field generation material which gives a direct-current magnetic field to the ferromagnetic structure arranged on an outer side of the vessel.   
     
     
         21 . The purifying apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein a metallic impurity circulated together with the electroconductive liquid by the electromagnetic force is caused to adhere to the ferromagnetic structure by a magnetic force which is in proportion to a magnetic field gradient formed around the ferromagnetic structure by applying of the direct-current magnetic field. 
     
     
         22 . A purifying method of an electroconductive liquid, wherein a downward or upward electromagnetic force is given to an electroconductive liquid in a vessel to be circulated, a pressure difference is generated in the electroconductive liquid by the electromagnetic force, impurities in the electroconductive liquid is collected in a low-pressure portion based on the pressure difference to be discharged, a ferromagnetic structure is arranged at a position in the electroconductive liquid where flow of the electroconductive liquid occurs, a direct current magnetic flux is penetrated through the ferromagnetic structure to form a gradient in a magnetic field around the ferromagnetic structure, and a metallic impurity circulated together with the electroconductive liquid by the electromagnetic force is caused to adhere and to be removed. 
     
     
         23 . The purifying method according to  claim 22 , wherein the electromagnetic force is a downward electromagnetic force.