WO2015092147A1 - An autoclave, a method for draining an autoclave and use of a connection line - Google Patents

An autoclave, a method for draining an autoclave and use of a connection line Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2015092147A1
WO2015092147A1 PCT/FI2014/051024 FI2014051024W WO2015092147A1 WO 2015092147 A1 WO2015092147 A1 WO 2015092147A1 FI 2014051024 W FI2014051024 W FI 2014051024W WO 2015092147 A1 WO2015092147 A1 WO 2015092147A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
autoclave
line
connection line
drain
fluid communication
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PCT/FI2014/051024
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French (fr)
Inventor
John O'callaghan
Timo Haakana
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Outotec (Finland) Oy
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Publication of WO2015092147A1 publication Critical patent/WO2015092147A1/en

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Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
    • C22B3/00—Extraction of metal compounds from ores or concentrates by wet processes
    • C22B3/02—Apparatus therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J19/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
    • B01J19/0053—Details of the reactor
    • B01J19/006—Baffles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J19/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
    • B01J19/0053—Details of the reactor
    • B01J19/0066—Stirrers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J19/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
    • B01J19/18—Stationary reactors having moving elements inside
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J3/00—Processes of utilising sub-atmospheric or super-atmospheric pressure to effect chemical or physical change of matter; Apparatus therefor
    • B01J3/04—Pressure vessels, e.g. autoclaves
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
    • C22B3/00—Extraction of metal compounds from ores or concentrates by wet processes
    • C22B3/04—Extraction of metal compounds from ores or concentrates by wet processes by leaching
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
    • B01J2219/00761—Details of the reactor
    • B01J2219/00763—Baffles
    • B01J2219/00765—Baffles attached to the reactor wall
    • B01J2219/00768—Baffles attached to the reactor wall vertical
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
    • B01J2219/18—Details relating to the spatial orientation of the reactor
    • B01J2219/182—Details relating to the spatial orientation of the reactor horizontal
    • 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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an autoclave, and more particularly to an autoclave according to the preamble of claim 1 .
  • the present invention relates also to a method for draining an autoclave, and more particularly to a method according to the preamble of claim 7.
  • the present invention relates also to a use of a connection line, and more particularly to a use according to claim 9.
  • the invention relates to an autoclave for pressure leaching or oxidation of sulphide ores and concentrates.
  • the autoclave has combined water injection line and drain line. From now on in this application the water injection line for adding water or other liquid to the autoclave is referred as a supply line and a drainage line for draining slurry from the autoclave is referred a drain line.
  • a chemical dissolution of soluble minerals within a solid ore or concentrate is carried out at high temperatures and elevated pressures such that a solution containing metals is recovered.
  • the pressure leaching process is carried out in autoclaves.
  • the slurry of ore is heated and fed into the autoclave, where high-pressure steam, water or other liquid, chemicals and oxygen are applied to oxidize or leach of slurry ore by a chemical reaction.
  • high-pressure steam, water or other liquid, chemicals and oxygen are applied to oxidize or leach of slurry ore by a chemical reaction.
  • leaching valuable metals leached iron, aluminum or other species will precipitate within the autoclave.
  • Scale is almost always formed in the process and the requirement to remove scale mostly determines the length of time the autoclave is online. Another factor that affects the operational time online is internal maintenance within the autoclave. Autoclaves will need to be shut down and be descaled and/or repaired and can be multiple times a year depending on scale formation rate and autoclav
  • drain nozzles installed into the bottom of the autoclave to allow for solution drainage and to allow scale removal.
  • drain nozzles There are many problems with the use of drain nozzles.
  • Another problem is that the drain nozzles become blocked with scale and slurry and become inoperable without physical intervention, i.e. the drain nozzle does not actually drain.
  • a typical autoclave comprises a cylindrical chamber divided into different compartments, an inlet and an outlet for the media to enter and to exit the autoclave and a waste piping connected to the lower part of the cylindrical chamber of the autoclave.
  • Scale is removed from the autoclave through a nozzle to which the drain line is connected, i.e. a cluster nozzle, or through an agitator nozzle.
  • the scale is removed either manually lifted out through the agitator nozzle in the upper part of the autoclave or if a bottom cluster nozzle is installed the scale can be removed through the bottom nozzle but since the scale is formed inside the autoclave also on top of the nozzle it is difficult to open and then remove the scale.
  • US 5535992A discloses an autoclave configuration for pressure leaching lateritic ores at elevated temperatures.
  • the autoclave configuration includes at least one primary autoclave.
  • the primary autoclave includes a slurry inlet port for receiving slurries of lateritic ore from a lateritic slurry supply, an acid inlet port for receiving leaching acids, an agitation means for agitating the slurries of lateritic ore, and an outlet port for removing partially leached slurries of lateritic ore.
  • a multi-compartment autoclave follows the primary autoclave.
  • the multi-compartment autoclave is divided into at least two chambers connected in series.
  • the chambers contain a means for agitating the partially leached slurries and divider walls for separating the chambers.
  • An inlet port is connected to the first of the chambers for receipt of the partially leached slurries.
  • An outlet port is connected to the last of the series of chambers for removal of the finally leached slurries.
  • a bypass conduit is connected to the lateritic slurry supply and the multi-compartment autoclave. The bypass conduit is for periodically isolating the primary autoclave for removal of scale while leaching lateritic ore in the multi-compartment autoclave.
  • the autoclave has to be drained for cleaning and maintenance purposes and a problem with a typical autoclave is that there is a drain nozzle on the bottom of the autoclave which with time will be blocked with scale and unblocking the drain nozzle with undrained acidic slurry sitting above it is hazardous and time-consuming because of the blockage above the drain nozzle.
  • One of the problems associated with the arrangement disclosed in US 5535992A is that it needs a separate bypass conduit which itself is an extra investment and in addition requires space in the process.
  • An object of the present invention is thus to provide an autoclave and a method for draining the autoclave so as to alleviate the above disadvantages.
  • the objects of the invention are achieved by an autoclave and a method which are characterized by what is stated in the independent claims.
  • the object of the invention is also achieved by a use of a connection line as stated in the independent claim.
  • the preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.
  • the invention is based on the idea of having a combined line for adding water to the autoclave and draining the autoclave.
  • the invention is further based on the idea of having a supply line for adding water to the autoclave which is always online or regularly used and connecting it to the drain nozzle so that the drain nozzle remains without scale sitting above and that autoclave can be drained once shutdown. With this invention there is no uncertainty about how much potentially acidic liquid remains in the autoclave above the drain nozzle and the drain nozzle is not blocked and it can be used without intervention or clearing a blocked nozzle.
  • This invention provides for improved drainage that helps minimize the risk associated with autoclave drainage by providing positive drainage of solution and slurry above the nozzle that will be removed during autoclave cleaning and maintenance.
  • the drain nozzle will remain unobstructed because of the quench water being online during operation of the autoclave and that way keeping the water pipeline always clear and when the autoclave is shutdown there will be a complete drainage of the autoclave.
  • the invention is based on the idea of having a common line for adding liquid to the autoclave and for draining the autoclave.
  • the leaching of sulphide ores and concentrates require that quench water is added.
  • the quench water is added through a supply line for adding liquid.
  • a fluid communication between the autoclave and the connection line is arranged in the bottom part of the autoclave and liquid from the supply line through the connection line keeps the fluid communication open such that the fluid communication between the autoclave and the connection line is formed so that the drainage from the autoclave through the connection line and further through the drain line can be arranged effectively.
  • the fluid communication between the autoclave and the connection line is formed through an aperture in the bottom part of the autoclave.
  • the aperture preferably comprises a drain nozzle.
  • the autoclave further comprises a drain nozzle for draining the autoclave and said drain nozzle is arranged in the bottom part of the autoclave and said connection line is connected to the autoclave via the drain nozzle.
  • the drain nozzle is preferably bidirectional so that liquid can flow through the drain nozzle from the connection line into the autoclave or that the autoclave can be drained through the drain nozzle into the connection line.
  • the autoclave for leaching and oxidising ores comprises an inlet for receiving slurries of ore into the autoclave, agitation means for agitating slurries of ore in the autoclave and an outlet for removing at least partially leached slurries of ore from the autoclave.
  • the autoclave further comprises a supply line in a fluid communication with the autoclave for adding liquid into the autoclave, a drain line in a fluid communication with the autoclave for draining the autoclave, and a connection line connected to the autoclave and being in a fluid communication with the autoclave.
  • connection line is in a fluid communication also with the supply line and with the drain line such that the supply line and the drain line are connected to the autoclave through the same connection line.
  • the autoclave further comprises at least one valve such that the flow direction in the connection line is changeable either from the supply line via the connection line to the autoclave or from the autoclave via the connection line to the drain line.
  • fluid communication means that there is a connection for a fluid flow to go from one location to another.
  • the autoclave comprises a supply line for adding liquid into the autoclave and a drain line for draining slurry from the autoclave and a connection line connected to the autoclave and being in a fluid communication with the autoclave.
  • the supply line and the drain line have a fluid communication with the connection line and with the autoclave through said connection line, the supply line and the drain line have a valve for closing and opening said line.
  • the autoclave has sulphide ores and liquid or other fluidic substance inside the autoclave and the autoclave comprises a supply line for adding liquid into the autoclave for quenching.
  • the autoclave further comprises a drain line for draining slurry from the autoclave and a connection line connected to the autoclave and being in a fluid communication with the autoclave.
  • the supply line and the drain line have a fluid communication with the connection line and with the autoclave through said connection line, the supply line and the drain line have a valve for closing and opening said line.
  • the method comprises the steps of closing the valve in the supply line for closing the fluid communication between the supply line and the connection line, opening the valve in the drain line for opening the fluid communication between the drain line and the connection line, and draining slurry or liquid or other fluidic substance from the autoclave through the connection line and through the drain line out of the autoclave.
  • the method further comprises a step of changing a flow direction in the connection line with a bidirectional valve in a drain nozzle arranged in the autoclave.
  • an autoclave having slurry or liquid or other fluidic substance inside the autoclave is drained in the following manner: closing the valve in the supply line for closing the fluid communication between the supply line and the connection line, opening the valve in the drain line for opening the fluid communication between the drain line and the connection line, changing the flow direction in the connection line with a bidirectional valve, and draining slurry or liquid or other fluidic substance from the autoclave through the connection line and through the drain line out of the autoclave.
  • connection line in an autoclave is used for adding liquid into the autoclave and for draining slurry or liquid or other fluidic substance out from the autoclave.
  • An advantage of this invention is that separate nozzles are not required for the liquid supply and for the drainage of slurry so the number of nozzles in the autoclave can be minimized which reduces costs of the autoclave considerably.
  • Another advantage of the invention is that the risks with maintenance are minimized when considering opening the drain nozzle because the slurry sitting above the drain nozzle is minimized when the fluid communication keeps the area clear from scale.
  • Another advantage of the invention is that the operation time will be longer since the requirement for removing scale is smaller.
  • Figure 1 shows an autoclave according to the invention.
  • Figure 1 shows an autoclave 1 for leaching sulphides and concentrates and ores, said autoclave 1 comprising an inlet 2 for receiving slurries of ore into the autoclave 1 , agitation means 3 for agitating the slurries of ore in the autoclave 1 and an outlet 4 for removing the at least partially leached slurries of ore from the autoclave 1 .
  • the autoclave 1 further comprises a supply line 5 in a fluid communication with the autoclave 1 for adding liquid into the autoclave 1 .
  • the autoclave 1 further comprises a drain line 6 in a fluid communication with the autoclave 1 for draining the autoclave 1 , and a connection line 7 connected to the autoclave 1 and being in a fluid communication with the autoclave 1 , the connection line 7 being in a fluid communication also with the supply line 5 and with the drain line 6 such that the supply line 5 and the drain line 6 are connected with the autoclave through the connection line 7.
  • the autoclave 1 further comprises at least one valve 8, 9 such that a flow direction in the connection line 7 is changeable either from the supply line 5 via the connection line 7 to the autoclave 1 or from the autoclave 1 via the connection line 7 to the drain line 6.
  • the autoclave 1 that comprises the supply line 5 for adding liquid into the autoclave 1 , the drain line 6 for draining slurry from the autoclave 1 and the connection line 7 connected to the autoclave 1 and being in a fluid communication with the autoclave 1 , said supply line 5 and said drain line 6 having a fluid communication with the autoclave 1 through the connection line 7, is used for leaching ores and a part of the process for leaching ores is that liquid, which is typically water, is added during the process.
  • the liquid is added to the process such that the supply line 5 supplies liquid and the connection line 7 further leads the liquid coming from the supply line 5 into the autoclave 1 . From time to time the autoclave 1 has to be drained in which the method for draining the autoclave 1 is used.
  • the method comprises the steps of closing the valve 8 in the supply line 5 for closing the fluid communication between the supply line 5 and the connection line 7, opening the valve 9 in the drain line 6 for opening the fluid communication between the drain line 6 and the connection line 7, changing the flow direction in the connection line 7 with a bidirectional valve 10, and draining slurry or liquid or other fluidic substance from the autoclave 1 through the connection line 7 and through the drain line 6 out of the autoclave 1 .
  • the autoclave 1 comprises an aperture forming fluid communication between the autoclave 1 and the connection line 7 and the aperture is arranged in the bottom part of the autoclave 1 .
  • the material of the connection line 7 is preferably alloy steel or some other corrosion resistant material.
  • connection line 7 is used for adding liquid into the autoclave 1 and for draining slurry or liquid or other fluidic substance out from the autoclave 1 so it directs fluid in both directions in the connection line 7.

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Abstract

The invention relates to an autoclave for leaching and oxidising ores comprises an inlet for receiving slurries of ore into the autoclave, agitation means for agitating slurries of ore in the autoclave and an outlet for removing at least partially leached slurries of ore from the autoclave. The autoclave further comprises a supply line in a fluid communication with the autoclave for adding liquid into the autoclave, a drain line in a fluid communication with the autoclave for draining the autoclave, and a connection line connected to the autoclave and being in a fluid communication with the autoclave. The connection line is in a fluid communication also with the supply line and with the drain line such that the supply line and the drain line are connected to the autoclave through the same connection line. The invention relates also to a method for draining an autoclave and a use of a connection line in an autoclave.

Description

AN AUTOCLAVE, A METHOD FOR DRAINING AN AUTOCLAVE AND USE OF A CONNECTION LINE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an autoclave, and more particularly to an autoclave according to the preamble of claim 1 .
The present invention relates also to a method for draining an autoclave, and more particularly to a method according to the preamble of claim 7.
The present invention relates also to a use of a connection line, and more particularly to a use according to claim 9.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an autoclave for pressure leaching or oxidation of sulphide ores and concentrates. According to the invention the autoclave has combined water injection line and drain line. From now on in this application the water injection line for adding water or other liquid to the autoclave is referred as a supply line and a drainage line for draining slurry from the autoclave is referred a drain line.
In a pressure leaching process a chemical dissolution of soluble minerals within a solid ore or concentrate is carried out at high temperatures and elevated pressures such that a solution containing metals is recovered. The pressure leaching process is carried out in autoclaves. The slurry of ore is heated and fed into the autoclave, where high-pressure steam, water or other liquid, chemicals and oxygen are applied to oxidize or leach of slurry ore by a chemical reaction. Invariably when leaching valuable metals leached iron, aluminum or other species will precipitate within the autoclave. Whenever there are large amounts of precipitation occurring there are invariably large amounts of scale also formed. Scale is almost always formed in the process and the requirement to remove scale mostly determines the length of time the autoclave is online. Another factor that affects the operational time online is internal maintenance within the autoclave. Autoclaves will need to be shut down and be descaled and/or repaired and can be multiple times a year depending on scale formation rate and autoclave design.
It is commonly known that most autoclaves include drain nozzles installed into the bottom of the autoclave to allow for solution drainage and to allow scale removal. There are many problems with the use of drain nozzles. One is that the removal of the bottom drain nozzle flange cover is a major hazard. Manual unbolting of the cover by personnel is hazardous because it is often not known to what extent drainage has occurred in the autoclave and how much solution or slurry is above the nozzle. Another problem is that the drain nozzles become blocked with scale and slurry and become inoperable without physical intervention, i.e. the drain nozzle does not actually drain.
A typical autoclave comprises a cylindrical chamber divided into different compartments, an inlet and an outlet for the media to enter and to exit the autoclave and a waste piping connected to the lower part of the cylindrical chamber of the autoclave. Scale is removed from the autoclave through a nozzle to which the drain line is connected, i.e. a cluster nozzle, or through an agitator nozzle. First the autoclave is drained and then the scale is removed either manually lifted out through the agitator nozzle in the upper part of the autoclave or if a bottom cluster nozzle is installed the scale can be removed through the bottom nozzle but since the scale is formed inside the autoclave also on top of the nozzle it is difficult to open and then remove the scale.
US 5535992A discloses an autoclave configuration for pressure leaching lateritic ores at elevated temperatures. The autoclave configuration includes at least one primary autoclave. The primary autoclave includes a slurry inlet port for receiving slurries of lateritic ore from a lateritic slurry supply, an acid inlet port for receiving leaching acids, an agitation means for agitating the slurries of lateritic ore, and an outlet port for removing partially leached slurries of lateritic ore. A multi-compartment autoclave follows the primary autoclave. The multi-compartment autoclave is divided into at least two chambers connected in series. The chambers contain a means for agitating the partially leached slurries and divider walls for separating the chambers. An inlet port is connected to the first of the chambers for receipt of the partially leached slurries. An outlet port is connected to the last of the series of chambers for removal of the finally leached slurries. A bypass conduit is connected to the lateritic slurry supply and the multi-compartment autoclave. The bypass conduit is for periodically isolating the primary autoclave for removal of scale while leaching lateritic ore in the multi-compartment autoclave.
The autoclave has to be drained for cleaning and maintenance purposes and a problem with a typical autoclave is that there is a drain nozzle on the bottom of the autoclave which with time will be blocked with scale and unblocking the drain nozzle with undrained acidic slurry sitting above it is hazardous and time-consuming because of the blockage above the drain nozzle. One of the problems associated with the arrangement disclosed in US 5535992A is that it needs a separate bypass conduit which itself is an extra investment and in addition requires space in the process.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is thus to provide an autoclave and a method for draining the autoclave so as to alleviate the above disadvantages. The objects of the invention are achieved by an autoclave and a method which are characterized by what is stated in the independent claims. The object of the invention is also achieved by a use of a connection line as stated in the independent claim. The preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.
The invention is based on the idea of having a combined line for adding water to the autoclave and draining the autoclave. The invention is further based on the idea of having a supply line for adding water to the autoclave which is always online or regularly used and connecting it to the drain nozzle so that the drain nozzle remains without scale sitting above and that autoclave can be drained once shutdown. With this invention there is no uncertainty about how much potentially acidic liquid remains in the autoclave above the drain nozzle and the drain nozzle is not blocked and it can be used without intervention or clearing a blocked nozzle.
This invention provides for improved drainage that helps minimize the risk associated with autoclave drainage by providing positive drainage of solution and slurry above the nozzle that will be removed during autoclave cleaning and maintenance. The drain nozzle will remain unobstructed because of the quench water being online during operation of the autoclave and that way keeping the water pipeline always clear and when the autoclave is shutdown there will be a complete drainage of the autoclave.
The invention is based on the idea of having a common line for adding liquid to the autoclave and for draining the autoclave. The leaching of sulphide ores and concentrates require that quench water is added. The quench water is added through a supply line for adding liquid. By supplying cooling liquid to the autoclave an aperture comprising a drain nozzle in the bottom part of the autoclave remains open and without scale blocking it so that when the autoclave is drained the drainage occurs effectively and without any blockages. In other words a fluid communication between the autoclave and the connection line is arranged in the bottom part of the autoclave and liquid from the supply line through the connection line keeps the fluid communication open such that the fluid communication between the autoclave and the connection line is formed so that the drainage from the autoclave through the connection line and further through the drain line can be arranged effectively. The fluid communication between the autoclave and the connection line is formed through an aperture in the bottom part of the autoclave. The aperture preferably comprises a drain nozzle. So the autoclave further comprises a drain nozzle for draining the autoclave and said drain nozzle is arranged in the bottom part of the autoclave and said connection line is connected to the autoclave via the drain nozzle. The drain nozzle is preferably bidirectional so that liquid can flow through the drain nozzle from the connection line into the autoclave or that the autoclave can be drained through the drain nozzle into the connection line.
According to the invention the autoclave for leaching and oxidising ores comprises an inlet for receiving slurries of ore into the autoclave, agitation means for agitating slurries of ore in the autoclave and an outlet for removing at least partially leached slurries of ore from the autoclave. The autoclave further comprises a supply line in a fluid communication with the autoclave for adding liquid into the autoclave, a drain line in a fluid communication with the autoclave for draining the autoclave, and a connection line connected to the autoclave and being in a fluid communication with the autoclave. The connection line is in a fluid communication also with the supply line and with the drain line such that the supply line and the drain line are connected to the autoclave through the same connection line. The autoclave further comprises at least one valve such that the flow direction in the connection line is changeable either from the supply line via the connection line to the autoclave or from the autoclave via the connection line to the drain line. In this application the term fluid communication means that there is a connection for a fluid flow to go from one location to another.
The autoclave comprises a supply line for adding liquid into the autoclave and a drain line for draining slurry from the autoclave and a connection line connected to the autoclave and being in a fluid communication with the autoclave. The supply line and the drain line have a fluid communication with the connection line and with the autoclave through said connection line, the supply line and the drain line have a valve for closing and opening said line.
According to the method of the invention for draining an autoclave, the autoclave has sulphide ores and liquid or other fluidic substance inside the autoclave and the autoclave comprises a supply line for adding liquid into the autoclave for quenching. The autoclave further comprises a drain line for draining slurry from the autoclave and a connection line connected to the autoclave and being in a fluid communication with the autoclave. The supply line and the drain line have a fluid communication with the connection line and with the autoclave through said connection line, the supply line and the drain line have a valve for closing and opening said line. The method comprises the steps of closing the valve in the supply line for closing the fluid communication between the supply line and the connection line, opening the valve in the drain line for opening the fluid communication between the drain line and the connection line, and draining slurry or liquid or other fluidic substance from the autoclave through the connection line and through the drain line out of the autoclave. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the method further comprises a step of changing a flow direction in the connection line with a bidirectional valve in a drain nozzle arranged in the autoclave.
So according to the method of the invention an autoclave having slurry or liquid or other fluidic substance inside the autoclave is drained in the following manner: closing the valve in the supply line for closing the fluid communication between the supply line and the connection line, opening the valve in the drain line for opening the fluid communication between the drain line and the connection line, changing the flow direction in the connection line with a bidirectional valve, and draining slurry or liquid or other fluidic substance from the autoclave through the connection line and through the drain line out of the autoclave.
According to the use of the invention the connection line in an autoclave is used for adding liquid into the autoclave and for draining slurry or liquid or other fluidic substance out from the autoclave.
An advantage of this invention is that separate nozzles are not required for the liquid supply and for the drainage of slurry so the number of nozzles in the autoclave can be minimized which reduces costs of the autoclave considerably. Another advantage of the invention is that the risks with maintenance are minimized when considering opening the drain nozzle because the slurry sitting above the drain nozzle is minimized when the fluid communication keeps the area clear from scale. Another advantage of the invention is that the operation time will be longer since the requirement for removing scale is smaller.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following the invention will be described in greater detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawing, in which
Figure 1 shows an autoclave according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Figure 1 shows an autoclave 1 for leaching sulphides and concentrates and ores, said autoclave 1 comprising an inlet 2 for receiving slurries of ore into the autoclave 1 , agitation means 3 for agitating the slurries of ore in the autoclave 1 and an outlet 4 for removing the at least partially leached slurries of ore from the autoclave 1 . The autoclave 1 further comprises a supply line 5 in a fluid communication with the autoclave 1 for adding liquid into the autoclave 1 . The autoclave 1 further comprises a drain line 6 in a fluid communication with the autoclave 1 for draining the autoclave 1 , and a connection line 7 connected to the autoclave 1 and being in a fluid communication with the autoclave 1 , the connection line 7 being in a fluid communication also with the supply line 5 and with the drain line 6 such that the supply line 5 and the drain line 6 are connected with the autoclave through the connection line 7.
The autoclave 1 further comprises at least one valve 8, 9 such that a flow direction in the connection line 7 is changeable either from the supply line 5 via the connection line 7 to the autoclave 1 or from the autoclave 1 via the connection line 7 to the drain line 6.
The autoclave 1 that comprises the supply line 5 for adding liquid into the autoclave 1 , the drain line 6 for draining slurry from the autoclave 1 and the connection line 7 connected to the autoclave 1 and being in a fluid communication with the autoclave 1 , said supply line 5 and said drain line 6 having a fluid communication with the autoclave 1 through the connection line 7, is used for leaching ores and a part of the process for leaching ores is that liquid, which is typically water, is added during the process. The liquid is added to the process such that the supply line 5 supplies liquid and the connection line 7 further leads the liquid coming from the supply line 5 into the autoclave 1 . From time to time the autoclave 1 has to be drained in which the method for draining the autoclave 1 is used. The method comprises the steps of closing the valve 8 in the supply line 5 for closing the fluid communication between the supply line 5 and the connection line 7, opening the valve 9 in the drain line 6 for opening the fluid communication between the drain line 6 and the connection line 7, changing the flow direction in the connection line 7 with a bidirectional valve 10, and draining slurry or liquid or other fluidic substance from the autoclave 1 through the connection line 7 and through the drain line 6 out of the autoclave 1 .
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the autoclave 1 comprises an aperture forming fluid communication between the autoclave 1 and the connection line 7 and the aperture is arranged in the bottom part of the autoclave 1 . The material of the connection line 7 is preferably alloy steel or some other corrosion resistant material.
The connection line 7 is used for adding liquid into the autoclave 1 and for draining slurry or liquid or other fluidic substance out from the autoclave 1 so it directs fluid in both directions in the connection line 7.
It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as the technology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An autoclave (1) for leaching and/or oxidation of sulphide ores and concentrates, said autoclave (1) comprising an inlet (2) for receiving slurries of ore into the autoclave (1), agitation means (3) for agitating slurries of ore in the autoclave (1 ) and an outlet (4) for removing at least partially leached slurries of ore from the autoclave (1), the autoclave (1) further comprising a supply line (5) in a fluid communication with the autoclave (1) for adding liquid into the autoclave (1) for quenching, characterized in that the autoclave (1 ) further comprising
a drain line (6) in a fluid communication with the autoclave (1) for draining the autoclave (1), and
a connection line (7) connected to the autoclave (1) and being in a fluid communication with the autoclave (1), the connection line (7) being in a fluid communication also with the supply line (5) and with the drain line (6) such that the supply line (5) and the drain line (6) are connected to the autoclave (1) through the connection line (7).
2. The autoclave (1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fluid communication between the autoclave (1) and the connection line (7) is arranged in the bottom part of the autoclave (1).
3. The autoclave (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the autoclave further comprises a drain nozzle for draining the autoclave (1), said drain nozzle being arranged in the bottom part of the autoclave (1) and said connection line (7) being connected to the autoclave (1) via the drain nozzle.
4. The autoclave (1 ) according to claim 3, characterized in that the drain nozzle is bidirectional such that liquid can flow through the drain nozzle from the connection line (7) into the autoclave (1) or that the autoclave (1) can be drained through the drain nozzle to the connection line (7).
5. The autoclave (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the autoclave (1 ) further comprises at least one valve (8, 9) such that the flow direction in the connection line (7) is changeable either from the supply line (5) via the connection line (7) to the autoclave (1 ) or from the autoclave (1) via the connection line (7) to the drain line (6).
6. The autoclave (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the material of the connection line (7) is alloy steel or some other corrosion resistant material.
7. A method for draining an autoclave (1) having sulphide ores and liquid or other fluidic substance inside the autoclave (1), said autoclave (1) comprising a supply line (5) for adding liquid into the autoclave (1) for quenching, characterized in that the autoclave (1 ) further comprising a drain line (6) for draining slurry from the autoclave (1) and a connection line (7) connected to the autoclave (1) and being in a fluid communication with the autoclave (1), said supply line (5) and said drain line (6) having a fluid communication with the connection line (7) and with the autoclave (1) through said connection line (7), the supply line (5) and the drain line (6) having a valve (8, 9) for closing and opening said line, the method comprising the steps of:
- closing the valve (8) in the supply line (5) for closing the fluid communication between the supply line (5) and the connection line (7),
- opening the valve (9) in the drain line (6) for opening the fluid communication between the drain line (6) and the connection line (7), and
- draining slurry or liquid or other fluidic substance from the autoclave (1) through the connection line (7) and through the drain line (6) out of the autoclave (1).
8. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the method further comprises a step of changing a flow direction in the connection line (7) with a bidirectional valve (10) in a drain nozzle arranged in the autoclave.
9. Use of a connection line (7) in an autoclave (1) according to claiml for adding liquid into the autoclave (1 ) and for draining slurry or liquid or other fluidic substance out from the autoclave (1 ).
PCT/FI2014/051024 2013-12-20 2014-12-18 An autoclave, a method for draining an autoclave and use of a connection line WO2015092147A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI20136302 2013-12-20
FI20136302A FI124739B (en) 2013-12-20 2013-12-20 Autoclave, procedure for emptying an autoclave and use of a connecting line

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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2143073A (en) * 1936-10-10 1939-01-10 Jay A Winans Method for treating ore
US5535992A (en) 1995-03-07 1996-07-16 Goro Nickel S.A. Apparatus and method for acidic leaching of lateritic ores
US6482250B1 (en) * 1998-04-17 2002-11-19 Barrick Gold Corporation Nozzle for low pressure flash tanks for ore slurry
US20030040651A1 (en) * 1998-10-20 2003-02-27 Wilson Joseph H. Apparatus and method for chemically reducing waste materials
CN201620183U (en) * 2010-02-10 2010-11-03 长沙有色冶金设计研究院 Horizontal agitated reactor oxygen pipeline

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2143073A (en) * 1936-10-10 1939-01-10 Jay A Winans Method for treating ore
US5535992A (en) 1995-03-07 1996-07-16 Goro Nickel S.A. Apparatus and method for acidic leaching of lateritic ores
US6482250B1 (en) * 1998-04-17 2002-11-19 Barrick Gold Corporation Nozzle for low pressure flash tanks for ore slurry
US20030040651A1 (en) * 1998-10-20 2003-02-27 Wilson Joseph H. Apparatus and method for chemically reducing waste materials
CN201620183U (en) * 2010-02-10 2010-11-03 长沙有色冶金设计研究院 Horizontal agitated reactor oxygen pipeline

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FI124739B (en) 2015-01-15

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