Electrostatic Separation Processes: A Linear-Interaction Optimization Model using Taguchi's Experimental Design Technique

Optimization of electrostatic separation processes demands the control of a multitude of factors, including the characteristics of the granular mixtures to be sorted, the feed rate, the configuration of the electrode system, the applied high-voltage, and the environmental conditions. This article demonstrates that Taguchi's methodology of experimental design can be successfully employed for deriving a mathematical model capable of reflecting the effects of a large number of such factors, as well as their main interactions. The discussion of the results points out the main limitation of this technique: it neglects some interactions that might be nevertheless relevant to the process.