Centrifugal Sieve for Size-Segregation and Beneficiation of Regolith

Reliable, robust methods for separation of granular materials that operate independent of gravity level would be useful for many applications in space exploration. Utilizing centrifugal force as the primary body-force, combined with shearing flow and vibratory motion the centrifugal-sieve separator can provide efficient gravity-level-independent size classification of granular feedstock like lunar regolith. A test apparatus has been built using a size-separating screen at the outside of the flow that will separate particles, with the fines passing through the outer wall screen, and the coarse material passing axially through the continuous feed system. The test apparatus is designed for semi-autonomous operation during reduced-gravity flights, and/or under vacuum conditions.