Cleanest recycling deposit I've ever seen. Zero fluids, no turd filled condoms tied around a handful of used syringes caked in used toilet paper stained with blood, no angry foreign babuska screaming about your having missed 3 cans in the count.
Not sure on the exact power usage, but I also feel like the engineers designing a system to quickly and accurately separate plastic and aluminum would have put a good bit of time and thought into making it efficient in terms of operating cost.
I think it's a cool invention. But we partly got the RVMs because people littered the bottles and cans everywhere. So not sure what would be the better Option allover.
An eddy current separator is a machine that uses magnetic fields to separate non-ferrous metals (like aluminum and copper) from other materials in a recycling or waste stream. It works by inducing eddy currents in the non-ferrous metals, which creates a repulsive force that pushes them away from the rest of the material
My old job used eddy currents to measure the coating thickness on anodized aluminum. The coating isn't conductive, so the strength of the eddy current response dropped off measurably as the thickness, and thus distance to the conductive material, increased
Thank you! Even though I don't understand how a magnetic field can induce anything in non-ferrous materials, but then I've always been shit at physics.
It’s due to motion, and a weird back-and-forth between electric fields and magnetic fields. Since the cans are moving through a magnetic field, it induces a current (eddy current) in the non-ferrous metal. This current is in turn repulsed by the magnetic field so the cans they go a-flying.
This phenomenon is why you can drop a strong magnet through a vertical copper tube and the magnet descends super slowly, but the magnet won’t stick to the copper.
Easiest way to explain it: Due to lens' law non ferrous but conductive metals can uno reverse card magnetic fields if they're moving.
This is the same kind of effect that most maglev trains use on the 'rail' portion. Just use spinning aluminum discs instead of electromagnets every couple meters. Much cheaper.
If you run electrical current through a wire, a magnetic field is generated. We use this law to create things like electro magnets, which are typically coils of copper (non-ferrous). You can generate an electrical current in any electrically conductive metal with induction. When you do this, you also generate an electro magnetic field, which can be repulsed.
We call it electromagnetism because electricity and magnetism are the same thing manifesting in different ways. Electricity creates magnetism and magnetism creates electricity, this is how induction chargers and induction stove tops work. You can even show it by observing the magnetic fields around copper wires while they pass current
We did an experiment with this on college physics: sliding a magnet down an Al sheet. The magnet did slide down, but very jerkily, like driving a car with the gas pedal floored while pumping the breaks with your other foot.
Goodmerlinpeen
Can: “Haha, wheeeee!!!”
Kimsgrim
Cleanest recycling deposit I've ever seen. Zero fluids, no turd filled condoms tied around a handful of used syringes caked in used toilet paper stained with blood, no angry foreign babuska screaming about your having missed 3 cans in the count.
Umkontodon
Invisible cats?
Daywalker27
wookietiddy
I'm working on a mechanical subsystem that uses Eddy currents to sense position changes for feedback of a gimballed platform. Neat science!
WhatUpDog3000
Classic Eddy
HillOfBeans
https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTY1YjkxZmJlMm5uaXEzaXptb2lqaW94djkzdGUzaXk3ZjlldGRsYjlldGlvbThjeCZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/H7NqSz9lHXQsABXo71/200w.mp4
goflyblind
psmith00
can't we just say it using magic? :-)
usernamesarenotcomments
Just how much energy does this sort of system use? I feel like this can't possibly be an efficient way of doing this
The701
Not sure on the exact power usage, but I also feel like the engineers designing a system to quickly and accurately separate plastic and aluminum would have put a good bit of time and thought into making it efficient in terms of operating cost.
AyatollahBahloni
Cool technology.
forevernatalie
https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTY1YjkxZmJlb2owNGV6YXduOGd1NGViM2R0dDd3djUxZ3VrOTd2a3dodnQ3cW9tZCZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/bfA4KdSmxl2uc/200w.mp4
spinballwizardmtg
https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1djB5OWlodjkycDZtcnJtd2FhMTE4bmh3a2huajZjZDA0cGhiY3V5aCZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/LxPsfUhFxwRRC/200w.webp
ThadisJones
Fucking magnets, how do they work
Rosferatu
https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1Y244bGl4aTZrZmt5bGJlZnZ2dTdxaWc2N24yZDk2cGV0OHR2Y2V2byZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/jFA3Nfk825OIo/200w.webp
HelikaformerNubisKnight9
But every Pfandautomat (rerverse wending machine: you put the empty cans and bottles in, they get sorted, you get your deposit back) can do this?
JustLettingPeopleBeWrong
They work by scanning barcodes, and only take one item at a time. Hardly as large scale as what's pictured here.
HelikaformerNubisKnight9
But with the Pfandautomaten you don't need it large scale? But thanks of reminding me of the barcode. Hadn't accounted it.
JustLettingPeopleBeWrong
True, but I think the above is more for recycling centres. Also. RVMs aren't really appropriate for, say, a bar or restaurant to use.
HelikaformerNubisKnight9
I think it's a cool invention. But we partly got the RVMs because people littered the bottles and cans everywhere. So not sure what would be the better Option allover.
YippeeKayakOB
Chereazi
Neat
McPuffinStuff
Veh1
The tomato spanker.
AIisAbutnotI
Science!!!
spitfires2000
Fin fact: If you have an induction cook top in your kitchen you have eddy currents AT HOME!
wadatahmydamie
And if you don’t, store bought is fine
The701
"The eddy currents are coming from inside the metal!!!"
SebastianCrab
This is true anywhere in the world, not just Finland.
spitfires2000
How about Funland?
spitfires2000
*Fun. Maybe.
iatezola
There’s some sort of “we have eddy currents at home” joke here but I’m lazy and day drinking this Sunday so I can’t make it
Rookvlees
Fun fict: all those cooktops are made by fish. Hence the “fin.”
thatwastooclose
https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1ajVib3RtZGZqZmltcnNrMW5zNDd1NjY5OXhydHJzZXRlcTR3NmdqcyZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/zIwIWQx12YNEI/200w.webp
DnT64
Was hoping to see this one... totally appropriate.
iatezola
SCIENCE 🤩🤩🤩
ParaspriteHugger
Exdeath5000
An eddy current separator is a machine that uses magnetic fields to separate non-ferrous metals (like aluminum and copper) from other materials in a recycling or waste stream. It works by inducing eddy currents in the non-ferrous metals, which creates a repulsive force that pushes them away from the rest of the material
bernardthehermit0
So the iron/steel cans would go with the PET bottles ? And I guess an other sorting step is needed (magnets?)
JamesFaction
Iron has much higher resistance but current can still be induced in them. Probably not enough to overcome their weight, so you might be right
ticktockbent
Tractor beam. Got it
jacblake
Still not as cool as an Eddie riff…/gallery/rip-eddie-van-halen-ug9W7FH#RhvLdYr
IconicM
https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1c3o4dGl2ZWFtMW82dzc1ZHJsbjE2aWY3bjlyeWxycmNkc2Nmc25ndSZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/zIwIWQx12YNEI/200w.webp
InitHello
I think it's fascinating, not repulsive.
IAmTheBadW01f
My old job used eddy currents to measure the coating thickness on anodized aluminum. The coating isn't conductive, so the strength of the eddy current response dropped off measurably as the thickness, and thus distance to the conductive material, increased
CalvinMcFly
Neat.
IRCBrink
And where is Eddy standing during all of this?
JamesFaction
Aluminium and copper have much better electrical conductivity than iron and steel so this works great for them
NeedSomebodyToLove
But if it's not ferrous how is it magnetized? Is it just the electromagnetism?
magila
They aren’t magnetic but they conduct electricity. An eddy current swirls or rotates on the conductor and this produces the magnetic field.
JamesFaction
Electrical induction. It momentarily turns them into an electromagnet
ParallelParkingInABurka
Thank you! Even though I don't understand how a magnetic field can induce anything in non-ferrous materials, but then I've always been shit at physics.
cansado
It’s due to motion, and a weird back-and-forth between electric fields and magnetic fields. Since the cans are moving through a magnetic field, it induces a current (eddy current) in the non-ferrous metal. This current is in turn repulsed by the magnetic field so the cans they go a-flying.
This phenomenon is why you can drop a strong magnet through a vertical copper tube and the magnet descends super slowly, but the magnet won’t stick to the copper.
OverthinkingThis
Easiest way to explain it: Due to lens' law non ferrous but conductive metals can uno reverse card magnetic fields if they're moving.
This is the same kind of effect that most maglev trains use on the 'rail' portion. Just use spinning aluminum discs instead of electromagnets every couple meters. Much cheaper.
Detacheddavid
I suppose it induces eddy currents within conductors (in this case the cans) using a changing magnetic field.
cyno01
This but inside out.
SebastianCrab
If you run electrical current through a wire, a magnetic field is generated. We use this law to create things like electro magnets, which are typically coils of copper (non-ferrous). You can generate an electrical current in any electrically conductive metal with induction. When you do this, you also generate an electro magnetic field, which can be repulsed.
ParallelParkingInABurka
Thx!
Exdeath5000
It forms electrical currents in the metal basically. All metals conduct electricity at different rates
ParallelParkingInABurka
Ahh, got it.
squillis
We call it electromagnetism because electricity and magnetism are the same thing manifesting in different ways. Electricity creates magnetism and magnetism creates electricity, this is how induction chargers and induction stove tops work. You can even show it by observing the magnetic fields around copper wires while they pass current
justplainvanilla
DrSharkbite
TurnsOut42WasASlightMiscalculation
Ah, yes. Stupid Human Tricks
morningxafter
ePluribus
Ahh... but he didn't break anything at all! Not even Deez Nutz... but he did brake the swinging pendulum, so...
pareidoliaperson
Science is science.
jakobbp
I didn't know Stephen Merchant did physics.
xtav
Not anymore, unfortunately.
magila
What about Cole’s law?
Sprucelake
It's thinly sliced cabbage
magila
With a slightly sweet creamy sauce?
wizard07ksu9000
Electromagnetism is fucking awesome.
We did an experiment with this on college physics: sliding a magnet down an Al sheet. The magnet did slide down, but very jerkily, like driving a car with the gas pedal floored while pumping the breaks with your other foot.
mikeatike
An Artificial Intelligence sheet.
YpsilantiRomani
Nope A1 steak sauce sheet, duh