US796282A - Method of converting matte. - Google Patents

Description

PATENITBD AUG. 1,1905.

R. :McmALmL y METHOD 0F GONVBRTING MATTE.;

HEBT 2.

z sHEETs--s APPLICATION FILED APR.8.1904.

WITN ESSES nmmsw4 s. GRAHAM co, rhowALlrwauPnEns. WAININMON. vv C.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE Specification of Letters Patent.

lPatented Aug. 1, 1905.'

'Application filed April 8,-1904. Serial No. 202,193.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH BAGGALEY, of Y lPittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Method of Converting Matte, of

which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in Whichs l l Figure 1 shows in vertical longitudinal section a converter which has been lined in accordance with my invention.- Fig. 2 is a vertical -cross-section on the line TI II of Fig. 1.

In producing copperby the Bessemer-process it is customary, after the ore or concentrates have been smelted in a blast-furnace or reverberatory furnace and reduced thereby into a matte varying approximately from', say,-thirty to forty per cent. up to lifty or sixty per cent. copper, vto transfer such matte into a converter having a lining of from eighteen to twenty-four inches in thickness of silica bonded with sufficient clay to hold the lining in place. When the air-blast is supplied through the converting-twyers, the iron content of the matte after being oxidized attacks and rapidly destroys the silica lining,

with which it combines to form silicate of iron, v

which, being less in specic gravity, floats as a slag on the top of the molten matte and can thus be removed.

The methods by which converters have been lined heretofore have been very expensive, for it has been deemed necessary in order to make the lining .effective to apply it in .the form of ground quartz mixed with clay in a plastic mass, which is carefully packed and rammed firmly and evenly in plac. This work is laborious and can only be done at a cost of about forty dollars for each relining, and as this lining must be renewed after every few blows of the converter the total expense is very great, and it is necessary to employ a special crew of men and to use a large number of spare converter-shells in order to make it possible to carry on lthe operations of the plant without interruption. As a rule the plastic lining cannot be evenly rammed. Hence some portions are porous and are easily attacked by the oxidized iron of the matte, while other portions that have been more firmly packed remain unconsumed. As the life of the lining must be controlled by its thinnest portion, it has often been necessary to discard a lining when less than one-half of it has been eifectively consumed.

I have discovered a method by which the v expense and large investment of capital which the prior methods have required are avoided and by which converters can be lined quickly and almost without cost.

The character of the lining which is made by my invention is of special utility, for the reason that it is loose and open and is therefore more rapidly attacked by the oxidized iron of the matte, thus enabling the converting operation to be carried on more rapidly. The prior linings being packed firmly against the converter were slowlyI attacked by the matte, the rapidity of their 'wear being due to the fact that they would be eaten out in spots.

suicient, however, to neutralize or satisfy the silica of the ore, but suiiicient to form aflux which when the vmixture is heated will cinter the mass somewhat and make it adhesive. l distribute this ore on the interior of the converter, preferably principally on the side of the converter opposite to the twyers, where the reactions principally take place. This may be done either by spreading the orel over the interior of the converter with a shovel or by placing it in the converter in a mass and then tipping the converter back and forth. I then, by means of flame from oil or gas jets in the converter, heat the layer of silicious ore suiiiciently to cause it to combine with the small -proportion of iron oxid and to cinter. This Will make it somewhat adhesive and will cause it to cohere as a mass and to adhere to the converter-shell in a loose'and unpacked lining of the necessary thickness.

Wherethe converter has been heated by previous blows, less heat will be required to cause the cintering of the lining.

The lining can be applied so quickly as not to interrupt to any material extent the operation of the converter and can be applied without special skill and with practically no eX- tra labor. Silica is offless specific gravity than molten matte, and hence the lining must lining, iron oxid or other ux must be especially added to cause it to cinter; but this is not necessary where sillci'ous ore containing iron 1s employed.

When the converter is charged with matte and is blown, the reactions take place in the ordinary way, except that the lining being unpacked and of open and porous nature, and therefore exposing a very large area of contact to the bath, will unite with great rapidity with the oxidized iron and will shorten the period of the conversion. rlhe location of thisv lining directly opposite the twyers is also especially favorable for very quick work. Every particle of the lining is utilized effectively, whereas in present practice a large proportion is wasted. As an illustration of its effectiveness over that in common use I have actually blown a double converter charge to excellent blister-copper 99.4: iine in iifty-ive minutes, which I believe to be unparalleled in past converting practice.

The metal values contained in the ore lining will be incorporated in the bath, and the lining therefore becomes a very important source of profit.

Referring now to the drawings, in which I show a converter which has been lined in accordance with my invention, 2 is the converter body, which may have an incasing waterjacket 3 and an interior lining 4 of magnesite brick or other suitable basic or neutral material.

5 is the silicious-ore lining, which is applied in accordance with my invention. The converter is provided with burners 6, adapted to supply gas or oil mixed with air and steam, and thus to create heat for cintering the silicious material of the lining.

A matte-bessemerizing converter having a distributed adhering lining oi' cintered uupacked silicious material is claimed in my application, Serial No. 257,824, liled April 28, 1905.

I claim as my invention* l. rIhe method herein described oi converting matte, which consists in distributing a lining of unpacked silicious material over the working area of the interior of the converter, cintering the same in place, introducing matte into the converter, and blowing air therethrough; substantially as described.

2. The method herein described of converting matte, which consists in distributing a lining of unpacked silicious ore over the working area of the interior of the converter, eintering the same in place,introducing matte into the converter and blowing air therethrough; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

RALPH BAGGALEY.

Witnesses:

J. H. REED, THOMAS W. BAKEWELL.

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