CA1089900A - Matte smelting - Google Patents
Matte smeltingInfo
- Publication number
- CA1089900A CA1089900A CA348,005A CA348005A CA1089900A CA 1089900 A CA1089900 A CA 1089900A CA 348005 A CA348005 A CA 348005A CA 1089900 A CA1089900 A CA 1089900A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- furnace
- matte
- slag
- phase
- pot
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P10/00—Technologies related to metal processing
- Y02P10/20—Recycling
Landscapes
- Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
Abstract
IMPROVEMENTS IN MATTE SMELTING
Abstract of the Disclosure Improvements in matte smelting are disclosed. A circular furnace is formed having a concave bottom, the radius of curvature of the bottom being no greater than the diameter of the circular furnace. The matte level is controlled to cover not more than half of the concave surface bottom. Advantageous positioning of the electrodes, tapping holes, feed chutes and the like are also disclosed.
Abstract of the Disclosure Improvements in matte smelting are disclosed. A circular furnace is formed having a concave bottom, the radius of curvature of the bottom being no greater than the diameter of the circular furnace. The matte level is controlled to cover not more than half of the concave surface bottom. Advantageous positioning of the electrodes, tapping holes, feed chutes and the like are also disclosed.
Description
- :l()s~o The present invention relates to matte smelting and to improvments therein, especially in the area of in situ slag refining. The present invention is concerned with matte smelting in an electric furnace.
This is a division of copending Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 267,123, filed December 3, 1976.
Matte smelting is an old and well known process.
In matte smelting, concentrates are fed to the smelting furnace. These concentrates are sulfidic minerals, typically dried, partially roas~ed or pelletized copper or nickel concentrates. The concentrates will also include iron. ;
The process in the smelting furnace is primarily `;~
directed to the separation of the iron from the more valuable elements such as copper, nickel, noble metals and the like. This is accomplished by slagging the iron content, typically by the addition of a material such as quartz. Two molten phases are thus formed, the oxide phase containing predominantly iron and the sulfide phase or matte which is predominantly the more valuable elements.
The matte will collect on the bottom of the furnace and can be tapped from the bottom portion while the slag will be the upper phase and is tapped at a higher level on the furnace. ~`-The matte and the slag phases have a certain degree of solubility in each other. This : ~ .
~, ,.
--1~ , . ,;
cbr/JO ;~
~ ~ .
9(l~
~olubillty is d.epend.ent upon such factors as temper~ture, ~he oxygen potential of the slag and the concentration of sulfid.es in the matte. A low d.egree of matte, i.e., a matte with high iron sulfid.e content, will give a ~ :
lower loss of va~uable elements to the slag phase. However, --a high d.egree of matte is beneficial in the subsequent convertor step. Because of these balancing interests, there is usually a compromise to try to achieve an optimum ratio. This optimum ratio will be consid.erably higher than the lowest d.egree of ma~te attainable.
Because of the somewhat eleva~ed. d.egree of matte, ..
typical matte processes involve recovery of dissolved sulfid.es from the slag phase a~ter it has been removed..
.. .
This is normally accomplished in a special slag refining ; .:
furnace. The applicant has now d.iccovered. t~at the need or $his special refining furnace to recover d.issolved .
8ulfid.es from the slag phase can be eliminated by improvements . .:
in the matte process to permit red.uction of the o~yge~ -potential in the slag phase while at the same time main- ~ :
taining a relatively high degree of matte in the furnace.
These benefits are achieved by employing a circular furnace wlth a concave bottom. The applioant has discovered that employing a urnace wi~h a concave bottom and with the ~-~te phase covering no more than about half of the bottom ~es~ s ih favorable movement ~n the furnace po~ ~o cha~
.. -2-. :
,;. ~ .~ :
~89g~0 a higher degree of slag ~efining can be accomplished in the furnace than is otherwise normally attainable because of the necessary process limitations for having a high enough degree of matte for the subsequent convertor step.
According to a specific embodimen-t of the present invention, there is provided a process for matte smelting wherein the steps include forming a matte phase and a slag phase in a circular furnace pot having a sub~
stantially concave bottom with a substantial portion o the concave bottom having a radius of curvature no greater than than about the diameter of the furnace pot. The operation of the furnace is controlled so that the matte phase covers no more than about one-half of the surface ~-of the concave bottom. The slag phase is tapped through a hole in the wall of the furnace pot, and the matte phase -is tapped through a hole in the wall of the furnace pot approximately opposite the point where the slag phase i5 tapped and from a point lower in the wall of the furnace and the slag tapping hole. The furnace pot is charged from a peripheral location outside an arrangement of electrodes disposed in the center of the furnace pot.
These and other advantages of the present invention may be more fully understood with respect to the drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a top view of a suitable apparatus for carrying out the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a section view through line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
~ eferring now to the figures, there is shown a circuIar smelting furnace 10 having a lining 12 and a ; roof 14. The bottom 16 of the furnace is made strongl~
concave. By strongly concave it is meant that the radius cbr/~O
\
of curvature of the bottom of the furnace is smaller than the diameter of the circular furnace pot. It will be appreciated that as a practical matter, the radius of curvature cannot be smaller than the radius of the circular furnace pot. It will also be appreciated that minor breaks in the cur~e such as that shown at 18 to facilitate tapping of the matte phase are within the contemplation of the present invention.
The matte 20 collects on the bottom of the furnace while the slag 22 floats on the matte. The matte covers no more than about one-half of the furnace bottom 16 in order to aid in movement of the bath as described more fully hereinafter.
The liquid matte is removed from the furnace pot through the wall 21 thereof by ~eans of tapping hole 23 and associated spout 24 while slag is removed through tapping hole 26 and associated spout 28.
Transport chute 30 distributes the charge to chutes -32, 34, 36 and 38. The charge is distributed in the central portion of the furnace about the electrodes 40 which are disposed in a triangular configuration as shown. In operation, heat is supplied to the slag through the electrodes 40 submerged therein. Because of a stronger development of gas in the energy intensive areas around the electrodes than in other areas, there will be vertical upwards movement in the bath in the vicinity of the electrodes. In these zones, the smelting of the charge will take place at a higher rate than in the circumferential zones. The result of this will be that the flow of slag on the surface of the slag phase will be in ~ ~-; a direction towards the circumference of the furnace pot while the slag portion at the interface between the slag and matte phases will flow tQwards the electrodes in the center of the furnace. Because the slag tapping ~ 1 sb/Jo , hole 26 is located. at the ~urthest point away from the triangular arrangement of electrod.es, i.e., opposite the mid.d.le of a wall o the triangle form~d by the electrod.es, slag flow will tend to ollow the circum- :
ference or periphery of the furnace pot on its way toward.s the slag tapping hole. This is shown in the figures by arrows which in~icate the d.irection of flow of the slag.
Since the slag phase is quite well separated. from the mat~e phase in the circumferential zones of the furnace d.ue to the bath flow caused by the concave.bo~tom -of the furnace, reducing agents such as pyrite or carbon can be ad.d.ed. to the slag to further re~ine the slag in situ and. thereby ob~iate the need. for a special slag re~ining furnace. Charging chutes 42 and 44 located in the outer peripheral portion of the furnace 10 and in ~hat half of the pot remote from the slag tapping hole 26 are used for .
8upplying the reducing agent.
M~tte material removed. through ~apping hole 23 is subsequently conveyed. to a convertor for further processing.
In the further processing, and as is well l~own in the art~ ~ .
a convertor slag is obtained. This co~vertor slag is ~uch rlcher in valuable metal sulfides than the furnace slag ~oved through tapping hole 26 and for thi~ reason the aorlvertor slag i9 returned to the ~melting furnace. In I
' ' "''"'' ~,.''.
5- .
' ' ' . ;:
... . ~ . . . , ~ ~ .. , accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the convertor slag is returned through chute 46 which is positioned opposite the furnace slag tapping hole 26.
Because of this arrangement, the convertor slag will be mixed with the furnace slag along the circumference of the furnace and it will therefore be purified as it - -flows towards the slag tapping hole. Gas may suitably ~ .
be removed from the furnace through gas pipes 48 positioned in the cover 1~ of the furnace. :
The above-disclosed apparatus is also disclosed :
and is claimed in parent application Serial No. 267,123.
It will be understood that the claims are intended to cover all changes and modifications of the.:
preferred embodiment of the invention, herein chosen for ~ -the purpose of illustration, which do not constitute .:~
departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.
;. '' :
:':
;~....:
;
:, .
.:
I .'. ':''.' '.
. -6-cbr/JO ~ ~
''-'.
This is a division of copending Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 267,123, filed December 3, 1976.
Matte smelting is an old and well known process.
In matte smelting, concentrates are fed to the smelting furnace. These concentrates are sulfidic minerals, typically dried, partially roas~ed or pelletized copper or nickel concentrates. The concentrates will also include iron. ;
The process in the smelting furnace is primarily `;~
directed to the separation of the iron from the more valuable elements such as copper, nickel, noble metals and the like. This is accomplished by slagging the iron content, typically by the addition of a material such as quartz. Two molten phases are thus formed, the oxide phase containing predominantly iron and the sulfide phase or matte which is predominantly the more valuable elements.
The matte will collect on the bottom of the furnace and can be tapped from the bottom portion while the slag will be the upper phase and is tapped at a higher level on the furnace. ~`-The matte and the slag phases have a certain degree of solubility in each other. This : ~ .
~, ,.
--1~ , . ,;
cbr/JO ;~
~ ~ .
9(l~
~olubillty is d.epend.ent upon such factors as temper~ture, ~he oxygen potential of the slag and the concentration of sulfid.es in the matte. A low d.egree of matte, i.e., a matte with high iron sulfid.e content, will give a ~ :
lower loss of va~uable elements to the slag phase. However, --a high d.egree of matte is beneficial in the subsequent convertor step. Because of these balancing interests, there is usually a compromise to try to achieve an optimum ratio. This optimum ratio will be consid.erably higher than the lowest d.egree of ma~te attainable.
Because of the somewhat eleva~ed. d.egree of matte, ..
typical matte processes involve recovery of dissolved sulfid.es from the slag phase a~ter it has been removed..
.. .
This is normally accomplished in a special slag refining ; .:
furnace. The applicant has now d.iccovered. t~at the need or $his special refining furnace to recover d.issolved .
8ulfid.es from the slag phase can be eliminated by improvements . .:
in the matte process to permit red.uction of the o~yge~ -potential in the slag phase while at the same time main- ~ :
taining a relatively high degree of matte in the furnace.
These benefits are achieved by employing a circular furnace wlth a concave bottom. The applioant has discovered that employing a urnace wi~h a concave bottom and with the ~-~te phase covering no more than about half of the bottom ~es~ s ih favorable movement ~n the furnace po~ ~o cha~
.. -2-. :
,;. ~ .~ :
~89g~0 a higher degree of slag ~efining can be accomplished in the furnace than is otherwise normally attainable because of the necessary process limitations for having a high enough degree of matte for the subsequent convertor step.
According to a specific embodimen-t of the present invention, there is provided a process for matte smelting wherein the steps include forming a matte phase and a slag phase in a circular furnace pot having a sub~
stantially concave bottom with a substantial portion o the concave bottom having a radius of curvature no greater than than about the diameter of the furnace pot. The operation of the furnace is controlled so that the matte phase covers no more than about one-half of the surface ~-of the concave bottom. The slag phase is tapped through a hole in the wall of the furnace pot, and the matte phase -is tapped through a hole in the wall of the furnace pot approximately opposite the point where the slag phase i5 tapped and from a point lower in the wall of the furnace and the slag tapping hole. The furnace pot is charged from a peripheral location outside an arrangement of electrodes disposed in the center of the furnace pot.
These and other advantages of the present invention may be more fully understood with respect to the drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a top view of a suitable apparatus for carrying out the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a section view through line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
~ eferring now to the figures, there is shown a circuIar smelting furnace 10 having a lining 12 and a ; roof 14. The bottom 16 of the furnace is made strongl~
concave. By strongly concave it is meant that the radius cbr/~O
\
of curvature of the bottom of the furnace is smaller than the diameter of the circular furnace pot. It will be appreciated that as a practical matter, the radius of curvature cannot be smaller than the radius of the circular furnace pot. It will also be appreciated that minor breaks in the cur~e such as that shown at 18 to facilitate tapping of the matte phase are within the contemplation of the present invention.
The matte 20 collects on the bottom of the furnace while the slag 22 floats on the matte. The matte covers no more than about one-half of the furnace bottom 16 in order to aid in movement of the bath as described more fully hereinafter.
The liquid matte is removed from the furnace pot through the wall 21 thereof by ~eans of tapping hole 23 and associated spout 24 while slag is removed through tapping hole 26 and associated spout 28.
Transport chute 30 distributes the charge to chutes -32, 34, 36 and 38. The charge is distributed in the central portion of the furnace about the electrodes 40 which are disposed in a triangular configuration as shown. In operation, heat is supplied to the slag through the electrodes 40 submerged therein. Because of a stronger development of gas in the energy intensive areas around the electrodes than in other areas, there will be vertical upwards movement in the bath in the vicinity of the electrodes. In these zones, the smelting of the charge will take place at a higher rate than in the circumferential zones. The result of this will be that the flow of slag on the surface of the slag phase will be in ~ ~-; a direction towards the circumference of the furnace pot while the slag portion at the interface between the slag and matte phases will flow tQwards the electrodes in the center of the furnace. Because the slag tapping ~ 1 sb/Jo , hole 26 is located. at the ~urthest point away from the triangular arrangement of electrod.es, i.e., opposite the mid.d.le of a wall o the triangle form~d by the electrod.es, slag flow will tend to ollow the circum- :
ference or periphery of the furnace pot on its way toward.s the slag tapping hole. This is shown in the figures by arrows which in~icate the d.irection of flow of the slag.
Since the slag phase is quite well separated. from the mat~e phase in the circumferential zones of the furnace d.ue to the bath flow caused by the concave.bo~tom -of the furnace, reducing agents such as pyrite or carbon can be ad.d.ed. to the slag to further re~ine the slag in situ and. thereby ob~iate the need. for a special slag re~ining furnace. Charging chutes 42 and 44 located in the outer peripheral portion of the furnace 10 and in ~hat half of the pot remote from the slag tapping hole 26 are used for .
8upplying the reducing agent.
M~tte material removed. through ~apping hole 23 is subsequently conveyed. to a convertor for further processing.
In the further processing, and as is well l~own in the art~ ~ .
a convertor slag is obtained. This co~vertor slag is ~uch rlcher in valuable metal sulfides than the furnace slag ~oved through tapping hole 26 and for thi~ reason the aorlvertor slag i9 returned to the ~melting furnace. In I
' ' "''"'' ~,.''.
5- .
' ' ' . ;:
... . ~ . . . , ~ ~ .. , accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the convertor slag is returned through chute 46 which is positioned opposite the furnace slag tapping hole 26.
Because of this arrangement, the convertor slag will be mixed with the furnace slag along the circumference of the furnace and it will therefore be purified as it - -flows towards the slag tapping hole. Gas may suitably ~ .
be removed from the furnace through gas pipes 48 positioned in the cover 1~ of the furnace. :
The above-disclosed apparatus is also disclosed :
and is claimed in parent application Serial No. 267,123.
It will be understood that the claims are intended to cover all changes and modifications of the.:
preferred embodiment of the invention, herein chosen for ~ -the purpose of illustration, which do not constitute .:~
departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.
;. '' :
:':
;~....:
;
:, .
.:
I .'. ':''.' '.
. -6-cbr/JO ~ ~
''-'.
Claims (4)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. In a matte smelting process wherein a matte phase and a slag phase are formed in a circular furnace pot having a substantially concave bottom and a sub-stantial portion of said concave bottom having a radius of curvature no greater than about the diameter of the furnace pot, the improvement comprising controlling the operation of the furnace so that the matte phase covers no more than about one-half of the surface of the concave furnace bottom.
2. A process for matte smelting wherein the steps comprise:
(a) forming a matte phase and a slag phase in a circular furnace pot having a substantially concave bottom with a substantial portion of said concave bottom having a radius of curvature no greater than about the diameter of the furnace pot;
(b) controlling the operation of the furnace so that the matte phase covers no more than about one-half of the surface of the concave bottom;
(c) tapping the slag phase through a hole in the wall of the furnace pot;
(d) tapping the matte phase through a hole in the wall of the furnace pot approximately opposite the point where the slag phase is tapped and from a point lower in the wall of the furnace than the slag tapping hole; and (e) charging the furnace pot from a peripheral location outside an arrangement of electrodes disposed in the center of the furnace pot.
(a) forming a matte phase and a slag phase in a circular furnace pot having a substantially concave bottom with a substantial portion of said concave bottom having a radius of curvature no greater than about the diameter of the furnace pot;
(b) controlling the operation of the furnace so that the matte phase covers no more than about one-half of the surface of the concave bottom;
(c) tapping the slag phase through a hole in the wall of the furnace pot;
(d) tapping the matte phase through a hole in the wall of the furnace pot approximately opposite the point where the slag phase is tapped and from a point lower in the wall of the furnace than the slag tapping hole; and (e) charging the furnace pot from a peripheral location outside an arrangement of electrodes disposed in the center of the furnace pot.
3. The matte smelting process of Claim 2 further comprising the step of adding a reducing agent to the slag phase at a peripheral location with respect to said electrodes.
4. The matte smelting process of Claim 2 further comprising the step of distributing sulfidic material charge in the central portion of the furnace.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA348,005A CA1089900A (en) | 1975-12-04 | 1980-03-19 | Matte smelting |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| NO754091A NO136256C (en) | 1975-12-04 | 1975-12-04 | PROCEDURES FOR THE MELTING OF SULFIDIC MINERAL CONCENTRATES. |
| NO754091 | 1975-12-04 | ||
| CA267,123A CA1089902A (en) | 1975-12-04 | 1976-12-03 | Matte smelting |
| CA348,005A CA1089900A (en) | 1975-12-04 | 1980-03-19 | Matte smelting |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1089900A true CA1089900A (en) | 1980-11-18 |
Family
ID=27164805
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA348,005A Expired CA1089900A (en) | 1975-12-04 | 1980-03-19 | Matte smelting |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1089900A (en) |
-
1980
- 1980-03-19 CA CA348,005A patent/CA1089900A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |