Classifications

• • 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
  • B01J19/24—Stationary reactors without moving elements inside
  • B01J19/245—Stationary reactors without moving elements inside placed in series
• • 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
  • C22B5/00—General methods of reducing to metals
• • 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
  • 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
  • C22B3/02—Apparatus therefor
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
  • F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
  • F27D1/00—Casings; Linings; Walls; Roofs
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D15/00—Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D7/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
  • F28F9/007—Auxiliary supports for elements
• • 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
  • B01J2219/00049—Controlling or regulating processes
  • B01J2219/00051—Controlling the temperature
  • B01J2219/00074—Controlling the temperature by indirect heating or cooling employing heat exchange fluids
  • B01J2219/00076—Controlling the temperature by indirect heating or cooling employing heat exchange fluids with heat exchange elements inside the reactor
  • B01J2219/00081—Tubes
• • 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
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
  • F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
  • F28D2021/0022—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for chemical reactors
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
  • F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
  • F28D2021/0098—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for viscous or semi-liquid materials, e.g. for processing sludge
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
  • F28F9/22—Arrangements for directing heat-exchange media into successive compartments, e.g. arrangements of guide plates

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an autoclave, and more particularly to an autoclave as described in the preamble of the independent claim 1 .
• the present invention also relates to a heat transfer element, and more particularly to a heat transfer element as described in the preamble of the independent claim 1 1 .
• Autoclaves usually consist of several compartments and each com- partment is normally equipped with a mechanical stirrer to keep solid particles in suspension.
• Cooling in an autoclave can be arranged by adding water to the autoclave compartments or by cooling elements placed in the autoclave.
• the cooling el- ements are normally placed as a separate piece of cooling element in the autoclave compartment or around an impeller.
• US 3,961 ,908 discloses an autoclave system comprising a horizontal cylindrical pressure vessel fitted internally with baffles forming a plurality of compartments. Means are provided for continuously feeding sulphide ore slur- ry into the autoclave and a water-cooled condenser to maintain the temperature within the vessel at a predetermined level.
• the condenser permits removal of heat and water from the autoclave. The removal of heat is accomplished by removing a stream of vapour through a conduit to enter the condenser where water vapour is condensed on outside tubes by cooling medium. So the con- denser is outside the actual pressure vessel.
• a blower may also be positioned between the condenser and the autoclave. This type of heat transfer element is not as effective as a heat transfer element that is placed inside the autoclave.
• Cooling elements such as cooling coils around impellers has been proven impractical due to disturbances in flow fields. Cooling coils are difficult to maintain because normally material of a cooling coil is titanium and since these types of structures cannot be removed from the autoclave once installed so possible repairs to the structure which are always done by welding has to be done in a protective gas environment which in turn is always very challeng- ing.
• An object of the present invention is thus to provide an autoclave so as to alleviate the above disadvantages.
• An object of the invention is also to provide a heat transfer element so as to solve above mentioned problems.
• the objects of the invention are achieved by an autoclave and a heat transfer element which the autoclave and the heat transfer element are characterized by what is stated in the independent claims.
• the preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.
• the invention is based on the idea of arranging a heat transfer ele- ment into an autoclave which said heat transfer element is arranged in a partitioning wall of said autoclave.
• the autoclave according to the invention is an elongated cylinder formed autoclave comprising multiple compartments which are divided by partitioning walls.
• the heat transfer element forms together with the partitioning wall an entire partitioning wall for dividing the autoclave into successive compartments.
• Another embodiment of the invention is that the heat transfer element forms the entire partitioning wall of the autoclave.
• the heat transfer element according to the invention is removably arranged in the autoclave so as to be replaced or maintained outside of the autoclave.
• the heat transfer element also comprises at least one through hole such that slurry present in the autoclave can flow through said through hole from one side of the heat transfer element to the other side of the heat transfer element and such that the slurry flows from one compartment to the successive compartment of the autoclave.
• the autoclave according to the invention comprises at least one partitioning wall for internally dividing successive compartments in the autoclave and means for transferring heat to the autoclave.
• the means for transferring heat to the autoclave is a heat transfer element that is arranged in the partitioning wall of the autoclave such that the heat transfer element is arranged to form at least part of the partitioning wall.
• the heat transfer element according to the invention is arranged in the autoclave such that it is removable from said autoclave.
• the heat transfer element is preferably sizes such that it can be arranged inside into the autoclave through a manhole in the autoclave. This means that the heat transfer element can be removed from the partitioning wall or, if the heat transfer ele- ment forms the entire partitioning wall, from the inner surface of the autoclave and moved outside of the autoclave for repair and maintenance.
• the manhole is for example a service passage to the autoclave.
• the heat transfer element is arranged in the partitioning wall such that it is removable from said partitioning wall. This means that while the heat transfer element is removed from its position there still remains part of the partitioning wall.
• the heat transfer element is an integral part of the partitioning wall which means that when the heat transfer element is removed the entire partitioning wall is removed.
• the heat transfer element when forming a part of the partitioning wall or the entire partitioning wall, comprises at least one channel through said heat transfer element such that slurry in the autoclave can flow through the channel from one side of the partitioning wall to the other side of the partitioning wall, i.e. from one compartment to the successive compartment.
• the partitioning walls of the autoclave can change the flow configuration in the auto- clave by changing the positions of the heat transfer element in the partitioning wall. This means that the flow configuration through the successive compartments in the autoclave is adjustable by placing the heat transfer element either on a pressure side or on a down flow side in the partitioning wall.
• the heat transfer element preferably comprises a supporting struc- ture which supports the heat transfer part of the heat transfer element and preferably at the same time comprises attachment means for attaching the heat transfer element to the partitioning wall of the autoclave or to the inner shell of the autoclave either directly or via attachment structure.
• the heat transfer element according to the invention is for an auto- clave and to be arranged inside the autoclave.
• the heat transfer element comprises a flow structure for heat transfer medium to flow inside the heat transfer element and said heat transfer element is arranged to form at least part of a partitioning wall in the autoclave.
• the partitioning wall in the autoclave is the wall inside the autoclave for dividing the interior of the autoclave into successive- sive compartments.
• the heat transfer element is attachable to the autoclave such that it is releasable from the autoclave and especially such that the heat transfer element is connectable to the inner surface of the autoclave and/or to a partitioning wall or part of the partitioning wall inside the autoclave.
• the heat transfer element is preferably such that slurry flowing in- side the autoclave can go through the heat transfer element at least in some part of the heat transfer element so that the heat transfer element comprises at least one channel through said heat transfer element for slurry to flow through it.
• the heat transfer element comprises a coil structure for transferring heat to the autoclave and a supporting structure for supporting the heat transfer element to the partitioning wall.
• An advantage of the autoclave and the heat transfer element of the invention is that the heat transfer element can be replaced and repaired in a workshop with adequate protective gas environment.
• Another advantage of the invention is that when the heat transfer element comprises at least one through channel and preferably lots of through channels the flow through the heat transfer element keeps the element surfaces clean and on the other hand the heat transfer is more effective.
• Still another advantage of the invention is that downtime of an autoclave can be minimized with this type of heat transfer element because if the heat transfer element is damaged it can be replaced with a new one. While the heat transfer element is arranged in the partitioning wall of the autoclave at the same time it maximises space for the volume of the slurry so the autoclave volume can be optimized and thus smaller autoclaves can be designed.
• Figure 1 shows an autoclave and a heat transfer element according to the invention as a cross-sectional view
• Figure 2 shows the same autoclave as a side view
• FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of the heat transfer element according to the invention.
• FIG. 1 shows an autoclave 1 according to the invention as a cross-sectional view.
• the autoclave 1 is an elongated autoclave 1 preferably in a horizontal direction, i.e. a horizontal autoclave 1 .
• Said autoclave 1 comprises at least one partitioning wall 2 for internally dividing successive compartments 3 in the autoclave 1 .
• the autoclave 1 further comprises means for transferring heat to the autoclave 1 .
• the means for transferring heat to the autoclave 1 is a heat transfer element 4 arranged in the partitioning wall 2 of the autoclave 1 such that the heat transfer element 4 is arranged to form at least part of the partitioning wall 2.
• the heat transfer element 4 forms almost half of the partitioning wall but it can also be sized such that it forms the complete partitioning wall 2 or almost the entire partitioning wall 2.
• the heat transfer element 4 can also be arranged to form not more than half of the partitioning wall 2 as can be seen from figure 1 .
• the heat transfer element 4 forms at least part of a partitioning wall 2 for internally dividing successive compartments 3 in said autoclave 1 .
• the partitioning wall 2 is arranged to extend upwardly in the autoclave 1 such that the slurry can flow over said partitioning wall 2 from one compartment 3 to the successive compartment 3 during its passage through the autoclave 1 , the height of the internal partitioning wall 2 being less than the internal height of the autoclave 1 .
• the heat transfer element 4 is arranged to form not more than half of the partitioning wall 2 as can be seen in figure 1 .
• the heat transfer element 4 is dimensioned such that it can be in- serted into the autoclave through a manhole 5 (not shown in this figure) or through an agitator opening so that when the heat transfer element 4 has to be maintained or replaced with a new one it can be taken out from the autoclave 1 without any modifications in the structures of the autoclave 1 .
• the heat transfer element 4 is removably arranged in the partitioning wall 2 of the autoclave 1 so that it can be taken out from the autoclave 1 and inserted back again.
• the heat transfer element 4 is an integral part of the partitioning wall 2. This means that the heat transfer element 4 forms together with the partitioning wall 2 an entity as an entire partitioning wall 2 but still is releasably attachable to the autoclave 1 .
• the heat transfer element 4 comprises at least one channel arranged to go through said heat transfer element 4 such that slurry in the autoclave 1 can flow from one compartment 3 to the successive compartment 3 through the heat transfer element 4.
• the heat transfer element 4 comprises at least one channel through said heat transfer element 4 for slurry to flow through it.
• the heat transfer element 4 comprises strip such that the slurry in the autoclave can flow through adjacent strips through the heat transfer element 4.
• the heat transfer element 4 can also be formed such that it comprises a coil structure which comprises through channels so that the coil structure transfers heat to the autoclave 1 .
• the heat transfer element 4 further comprises a supporting structure for supporting the heat transfer element 4 to the partitioning wall 2 or to the inner shell of the au- toclave 1 .
• the heat transfer element may comprise a heat transfer part and a supporting structure such that the supporting structure supports the heat transfer part of the heat transfer element and preferably at the same time comprises attachment means for attaching the heat transfer element to the parti- tioning wall of the autoclave or to the inner shell of the autoclave either directly or via attachment structure.
• a flow configuration through the successive compartments 3 in the autoclave 1 is adjustable by placing the heat transfer element 4 either on the pressure side or on the down flow side in the parti- tioning wall 2. This can be achieved by a bolted structure on either side of the partitioning wall 2.
• Each partitioning wall 2 can be equipped with a heat transfer element 4 on both sides of the partitioning wall.
• Each compartment in the autoclave 1 can be equipped with one or more heating/cooling elements depending on the requirements.
• the installation on the partitioning wall may or may not replace a normal baffle structure on the partitioning wall 2 depending on the cooling/heating/mixing requirements.
• Heating element 2 may be installed on the baffle place or to either side of the baffle.
• Figure 2 shows the autoclave 1 as a side view.
• the partitioning wall 2 is arranged to extend upwardly in the auto- clave 1 such that the slurry flows over said partitioning wall 2 from one compartment 3 to the successive compartment 3 during its passage through the autoclave 1 , the height of the internal partitioning wall 2 being less than the internal height of the autoclave 1 . While the slurry flows over the partitioning walls 2 it can also be flown through the heat transfer element 4 (not shown in the figure) which makes the heat transfer more effective.
• FIG 3 shows a heat transfer element 4 according to the invention.
• the heat transfer element 4 preferably comprises multiple tubular pipes that extend from a lower part of the heat transfer element 4 to the upper part of the heat transfer element.
• the tubular pipes circulate the heat transfer medium inside the pipes so that the outer surface of the pipes heat up and eventually heats up the slurry as well.
• the tubular pipes are arranged side by side leaving a space between adjacent pipes to form a channel for the slurry to flow through the heat transfer element 4.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Metallurgy (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
• Geology (AREA)
• Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Citations (8)

• 2014
  • 2014-09-02 FI FI20145759A patent/FI20145759A/fi not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2015
  • 2015-09-01 WO PCT/FI2015/050568 patent/WO2016034768A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (8)

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