paddle wheel agitator for FB Gold Trap??

[Fireline]

I have been doing research on the gold trap sluice over the winter, I am getting ready to build one out of black Poly Pro scraps I have, and I had a thought..... Has anyone tried to design a small paddle wheel that turns an agitator inside the trap instead of using water to keep it fluid? Do you think it would work?

 

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[pods]

I think with an agitator setup instead of a fluid bed you would likely see stratification based on size as the likely force.
Fluid dynamics has been studied comprehensively and they can be set up pretty easily. And to ensure you have stratification based on specific gravity (as the dominant force), you can adjust sluice angle, scoop, tubes, holes, etc. You also have instant feedback if you can stick your finger in the fluid bed. You will feel if it is compacted and can adjust appropriately.

 

[Fireline]

Thanks for the input. I was thinking of a fluid bed, with the agitation coming from an agitator instead of water pressure. I can see what you mean about the weight/size vs specific gravity. Thanks again!

 

[KevinInColorado]

Thanks for the input. I was thinking of a fluid bed, with the agitation coming from an agitator instead of water pressure. I can see what you mean about the weight/size vs specific gravity. Thanks again!

yes this can work. Some guys I know have developed such a thing with small paddles rotating on a vertical axis, in a sort of big bowl, works good. They hand crank it but you could run a powered version as long as the paddles only move fast enough to fluidize and not much more.

 

[Fireline]

Ok, Im working on a design. I have another question. Has anyone tried an opening near the bottom of the up stream side instead of using the tubes with holes like the picture below? Maybe with an adjustment door for flow modifications.

 

[KevinInColorado]

Unlikely to work smoothly. You really need to inject the water into the bulk of the material, not just at one end. The amount of science and practical experimentation involved here led me in the direction of buying a well tested, proven version...the Bazooka Goldtrap line was the winner!

 

[Fireline]

Thanks for your help and input Kevin and pods. I like to tinker around, and there's still several feet of snow in the hills so I have some time. Ill use your advise along with the many other helpful posts here and attempt to build one. If that fails, I guess I will have to break down and buy a real one.

Thanks again!!

 

[KevinInColorado]

Thanks for your help and input Kevin and pods. I like to tinker around, and there's still several feet of snow in the hills so I have some time. Ill use your advise along with the many other helpful posts here and attempt to build one. If that fails, I guess I will have to break down and buy a real one. Thanks again!!

hey, if you get yours working...it IS a real one! Best of luck and I'm sure you'll have fun and learn a lot...

 

[pods]

Thanks for your help and input Kevin and pods. I like to tinker around, and there's still several feet of snow in the hills so I have some time. Ill use your advise along with the many other helpful posts here and attempt to build one. If that fails, I guess I will have to break down and buy a real one.

Thanks again!!

Nothing ever fails, you just learn another way not to make a gold sluice. (I know, cheap rip off of Edison)
Tinkering is what makes it fun.

 

[Goodyguy]

If it weren't for tinkerers there would be no inventions or improvements on inventions.

My motto: "if it ain't broke, fix it anyway"

I bet there are over a thousand different mousetrap patents.
As long as there are mice there will continue to be more mousetrap inventions forthcoming.

As long as there is gold...................


GG~