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By F. Guevara

The paper presents results of physical and turbulent three-dimensional numerical simulation of the gas flow in the wind box and reaction shaft of the concentrate burner of a flash furnace. Physical simulation work was carried out in a 1:5 linear scale model, where the velocity field was measured using a Pitot tube. The mathematical model consists of the three-dimensional averaged Navier-Stokes equations, turbulent kinetic energy and dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy using the Renormalization Group (RNG) theory for the k-e turbulence model. Computations were performed using FLUENT, based in a finite- volume code. The geometry of the concentrate burner was separated in two sections: wind box and reaction tower. Results obtained at the exit of the wind box were used as boundary conditions for the reaction shaft. The effect of boundary conditions on the numerical results was also studied. Results of physical and numerical simulations show an asymmetry of the velocity field at the exit of wind box. This asymmetry is possibly due to existence of a separated flow in the back of the exit ring. The agreement of physical and numerical results assess the capacity of the turbulence RNG k-e model to reproduce correctly the behaviour of the velocity field at the exit of the concentrate burner.

Jan 1, 1999

By T. Takasu

Overall productivity in copper refining is currently determined by the electrorefining process. Previous research showed that forced convection of the electrolyte improves the morphology of the copper deposit on the cathode and suppresses passivation of the anode. In this paper, electrorefining experiments under forced convection were carried out in the presence of As, Sb and Bi impurities, both in electrolyte and in the anode, to determine the effect of the impurities on the electrorefining process. The concentrations of the impurities in the deposit increased with increasing current density without forced convection. An increase in the fluid velocity suppressed the increase in impurity concentration. These concentrations were high, especially in the initial stage of deposition without forced convection, corresponding to a decrease in the cathode potential measured during that period. This indicates that the enrichment of impurities was induced electrochemically. The reason for the decrease in cathode potential was the low concentration of copper ions on the electrode surface because of ion consumption by the electrolysis. The forced convection of the electrolyte enhanced the ionic mass transfer and thus suppressed the polarization and deposition of the impurities. The fluid motion was shown to be effective in achieving electrolysis under high current density conditions.

Jan 1, 1999

By Pranav Deshpande

The wear behavior of metal matrix composites differs from that of the monolithic metallic counterparts because composite materials have multiple constituents in their structures and these constituents wear at different rates. It was observed that under low wear stresses, abrasive wear prevailed. As the wear stress increases, pullout of reinforcement occurs and both abrasive wear and wear due to pullout contribute to the overall composite wear. A model of wear taking into account both types of wear has been developed. A critical pullout wear stress was suggested for each composite. Below the critical wear stress, no pullout of reinforcement occurs. It turns out that the critical wear stress simply equals to the ratio of the interfacial strength between the matrix and the reinforcement to the friction coefficient between the reinforcement and the wear counter surface. The critical wear stress is independent of the particle size of the reinforcement. From data on wear of 53% WC composites, the equation of wear for 32% WC composites was obtained. Experimental results agreed well with the predicted wear rate of this composites. This provides an excellent verification of the wear model developed by Lin and Deshpande. Wear data from Modi et al. in the literature were also perfectly fitted with the model.

Jan 1, 2006

By Pekka Taskinen, Hannu Johto

"Copper sulfide concentrates often contain impurities such as lead and iron. The phase stabilities of the sulfide impurity systems in metallurgical process conditions are in many cases unsatisfactorily known. Thermodynamic information of a system gives better understanding of its behavior of metal making processes, but also has effects on the economic and environmental factors of the production process. In this study, isothermal equilibrium and quenching experiments of the stable phases of the system Cu2S-FeS-PbS at 700 and 900 °C were carried out and based on the experimental results, Gibbs triangle of equilibrium phases of the system was outlined.IntroductionThe knowledge of stabilities of phases and the thermodynamic properties of many sulfide systems in the temperature range of 500-1200 °C are quite limited. Especially, the knowledge of liquidus surfaces of multicomponent sulfide systems is essential for making many metallurgical processes more environmental friendly and allowing the utilization of complex concentrates. In this work, the aim was to investigate the phase stabilities of the quasiternary system CU2SFeS- PbS using evacuated silica ampoules. Of greatest interest were the properties of the liquidus surface in the system, in order to be able to predict better the formation of a liquid phase in metallurgical processes."

Jan 1, 2012

By Mamoru Kuwabara

A high-power sound which can transmit through any continuous elastic medium with less attenuation, particularly in liquid allows us to externally control the system of concern by using the acoustic radiation force or the cavitation phenomena. These functions may eliminate gravitational and/or atmospheric constraints which are often encountered in conventional operations for producing clean and advanced materials. This paper outlines the recent development in the field of sonoprocessing of materials. Cold model experiments in some vessels have been performed to simulate ultrasonic operations such as inclusion removal from liquid, degassing of melt, emulsification of two liquid phases, solidification processing, and decomposition of chemical species in waste water. High speed visual imaging is carried out for better understanding of the cavitation phenomena as well as the followed microjets during the processing. The radiation force acting on fine suspending objects in a fluid can be utilized for eliminating or rearranging/orienting the objects in the fluid. Acoustically induced cavitation phenomena in liquid can be utilized as an effective dynamic means to control interfacial phenomena as well as micro- and macro-mixing of liquid. Sonochemical and thermal effects in cavitation multi-bubble can be also useful in a waste water treatment.

Jan 1, 2006

By Erik Olsson, Gunilla Hyllander, Stefan Schuster, Lena Sundqvist Ökvist, Maria Lundgren, Michael Hensmann, Olavi Antila

"Residual materials from the integrated steel plant itself or other sources often contain valuable compounds of e.g. C and Fe. Dust and sludge have to be agglomerated to be able to recycle to the blast furnace (BF) via top-charging. By injection of the materials, preparation methods in terms of e.g. drying and/or screening only, can be used. Alternative carbon materials (ACM) in terms of BF dust and sludge have been successfully injected up to levels of 60 kg/tHM in the LK.AB Experimental Blast Furnace (LKAB EBF®). Efficiency in recovery of valuable compounds as well as the behavior of undesired elements have been evaluated and are discussed.IntroductionTraditionally, recycling of steel in-plant fines is made via the sinter plant and blast furnace route. Steel plants operating with 100% pellet as ferrous burden and have no sinter plant. There are limited areas for land fill and costs are caused for preparation of landfills and deposit fees. Very fine paniculate dusts or sludges cause decreased productivity and increased coke rate in the sinter plant, and therefore other ways for recycling must be considered. Injecting them into the BF could be an economically and technically feasible alternative. Additionally, as the materials contain valuable compounds of e.g. C and Fe."

Jan 1, 2012

By Young-Sool Jin, Heung Nam Han, Hong Joon Kim, Jae Kon Lee

A mathematical model was developed considering non-symmetric cooling' and stress distribution in both thickness and width direction of strip on a run-out table of hot strip mill. In order to solve a transient heat transfer equation including the heat evolved from phase transformation, a finite element method coupled with thermodynamic and kinetic analyses was applied. The heat capacity of each phase and heat evolution due to phase transformation were obtained from the thermodynamic analysis of the Fe-C-Mn-Si system based on a sub lattice model. The phase transformation kinetics of the steels was derived by using an inverse additivity technique with continuous cooling experiments. Heat transfer coefficients of strips on the run-out table were, by applying an inverse method, determined from the actual mill data under various cooling conditions. As for the stress analysis, the density change of strip due to cooling and phase transformation, and the transformation superplasticity were considered. A 90nstitutive equation for the transformation superplasticity, which is related to the phase transformation kinetics and the internal stress due to the density change of strip, was applied. A finite element method was adopted to calculate the deformation behaviour of strip on a run-out table of hot strip mill. Using the models, the temperature-phase-deformation history and distribution of a strip on the run-outtable was calculated.

Jan 1, 2001

By P. A. Botha

The coal seams in the Waterberg basin occur in correlates of the Vryheid and Volksrust Formations as developed in the main Karoo basin. In the Vryheid Formation, five thick seams of predominantly dull coal are present, whereas a multitude of thin, lenticular seams (a few millimetres to 2 metres}, predominantly of bright coal, are developed in the overlying Grootegeluk Formation. During exploration, the coal seams were divided into 11 zones. Analytical data on float and middlings fractions (RD less than 1.40 and between 140 and 1.80, respectively} were used mainly for stratigraphic correlation of the zones in the Grootegeluk Formation. The affinities of the major and trace elements for different mineral phases and/or organic material are discussed on the basis of correlation matrices and vertical variation diagrams. Titanium and vanadium clearly show some degree of organic affinity. P 205' AI203 and alkaline-earth elements are also positively correlated by the presence of goyazite in the coal. This type of investigation gives an indication of the degree to which undesirable elements like P and S can be removed during coal beneficiation, of which coal zones are unsuitable for the production of metallurgical coal on account of a high content of these elements, and to what extent the blending of different coal zones is required to keep the concentration of these elements within acceptable limits.

Jan 1, 1991

By S. de Vries, B. Wasmund, J. Metric, N. Voerrnann, S. Kasinger

Gulf Chemical & Metallurgical Corporation (GCMC) operates a circular DC electric smelting furnace to treat nickel and cobalt bearing residues at its plant in Freeport, Texas. The furnace, originally built by others, has experienced problems including runouts through the hearth and the lower sidewall. Hatch has designed several improvements to the furnace to alleviate these problems. The single anode at the centre of the hearth was replaced with a patented system of twelve air-cooled copper anodes evenly spaced around the furnace lower sidewall. The DC power supply comprises two transformers and two rectifiers operating in parallel. The water-cooling system on the bottom and lower sidewall shell plates was replaced with an air-cooling system using copper cooling fins. The existing row of water-cooled copper coolers in the metal bath zone was re-designed for greater heat removal capacity and better element joint sealing, and a new row of water-cooled copper coolers was added to cool both the alumina bath and freeboard zones. The existing water-cooled metal and alumina tapblocks were also re-designed for more robust cooling. A binding system was added to provide refractory compression that reduces the risk of liquid leaks. Finally, the furnace tilting frame was relocated to the top of the furnace where it is less likely to be damaged.

Jan 1, 2000

By Esperidiana A. B. Moura, Michelle Gomes, Cordelia M. F. Escanhoela, Francisco R. V. Diaz, Angel Ortiz, Rene R. Oliveira

"This work evaluates changes in morphological, mechanical and thermo-mechanical properties of electron-beam irradiated HDPE/nanoclay and HDPE/Piassava fiber/nanoclay. Material samples irradiated with 100 and 200 kGy using a 1.5 Me V electron beam accelerator (room temperature, presence of air) were submitted to tensile, flexural, and HDT tests. MFI, SEM and XRD analyses were carried out. Correlation between properties was discussed. Results showed that incorporation of piassava (Attalea funifera Mart) fiber and nanoclay, followed by irradiation represented significant gain in thermo-mechanical properties. Changes in surface morphology and reduction in MFI were observed. In conclusion, it may be claimed that the incorporation of piassava fiber in small size particles and nanoclay in the HDPE followed by electron-beam irradiation effectively improved the polymer properties and led to materials with superior properties suitable for several industrial applications.1. IntroductionIn recent years, the preference for using natural fibers instead of synthetic ones in polymer composites has been growing significantly. In Brazil, due to the great diversity of woody and fibrous plants of our forests, a vast potential of natural fibers is found, presenting good mechanical strength properties, chemical and biological stability, fire resistance, abrasion resistance, shear strength and lightness, among other which may contribute to the development of new materials for different applications such as automotive, aerospace, construction, food segment, cosmetics and others [ 1]."

Jan 1, 2013

By J. M. Zhuang

Lignosulfonates, by-products of the sulfite pulping process, have been utilized in a process [1, 2] to treat acidic rock drainage (ARD). This process is referred to as the LignorTM process. In the present study, lignosulfonates were found to protect lime from developing an external surface coating, and hence to favor its dissociation. Further, the addition of lignosulfonates to ARD solutions increased the clotting and settling rate of the formed sludge. The capability of lignosulfonates to form stable metal-lignin complexes makes them very useful in retaining metal ions and thus improving the long term stability of the sludge against leaching. The LignorTM process involves metal chelation with lignosulfonates, ARD neutralization by lime to about pH 7, pH adjustment with caustic soda to 9.4 ? 9.6, air oxidation to lower the pH to a desired level, and addition of a minimum amount of FeCl3 for further removal of dissolved metals. The LignorTM process removes all concerned metals (especially Al and Mn) from the ARD of the Britannia Mine (located at Britannia Beach, British Columbia, Canada) to a level lower than the limits of the BC Regulations. Compared with the high density sludge (HDS) process, the LignorTM process has many advantages, such as considerable savings in lime consumption, greatly reduced sludge volume, and improved sludge stability.

Jan 1, 2003

By John B. Dale

A primary objective of copper mining, smelting and refining operations is the cost- effective, efficient, and environmentally-acceptable control of the level of various metal ions throughout the processing and effluent treatment flowsheets. Effective ionic control maximizes product and by-product quality, allows for broad flexibility in sourcing impurity laden ores, minimizes capital and operating costs, and can achieve zero discharge operations. In order to meet increasingly stringent cost, environmental and product quality requirements, separation technologies are needed that can selectively remove and recover deleterious or valuable ions. Ideally, the subsequently obtained salts or metals can be recycled in the process, disposed of in an environmentally acceptable manner, or sold as valuable by-products. The use of MRT, a highly selective separations technology, has been demonstrated to be a cost effective, efficient, and environmentally- sound treatment for a wide range of cations and anions that are commonly found in copper electrorefining and electrowinning circuits, as well as in environmental treatment operations. These include heavy and transition metals, precious metals, halides and alkali/alkaline earths. This paper will review a number of areas of interest including: recovery and refining of platinum group metals from copper anode slimes, recovery of copper from acid mine drainage streams, extraction of Bi, Sb and C1 from copper electrorefining and electrowinning circuits.

Jan 1, 1999

By M. E. Reed

Clyde Materials Handling (CMH) and WorleyParsons have developed a concept for a flash furnace feed system using the specialist pneumatic conveying equipment expertise of CMH and the flash furnace process experience of WorleyParsons. CMH has developed a proprietary volumetric feeder (called a Rotofeed) which is extremely accurate and overcomes many of the problems inherent with loss-in-weight screw feeders and drag chain conveyors, previously regarded as state-of-the-art. Initial indications are that the Clyde-WorleyParsons Feed System could deliver the following benefits to Flash Furnace operation: ? Accurate pulse-less delivery of feed material to the head of the burner leading to improved combustion performance and process stability; ? Highly accurate split to the individual quadrants of a conventional burner tube, or provision of a smooth hollow curtain to a burner without guide vanes; ? Decreased pressure pulsation in the furnace due to improved combustion control and performance; ? Decreased temperature fluctuations in the furnace due to improved combustion characteristics and hence reductions in refractory thermal stress and wear; Plant measurements have indicated a correlation between the discharge of concentrate from the drag chain conveyor and high speed pressure fluctuations in the flash furnace settler. Pilot scale test have been conducted to illustrate that the system delivers pulse-less feed to the burner with even feed distribution axially.

Jan 1, 2006

By René Bustamante

The subject of this paper is a comparative evaluation of different copper smelting gas cooling techniques, using "productivity and quality" criteria. The first section presents a brief description of the operation of the radiant and the evaporative cooling systems, focusing on the differences between each other, in particular regarding. a) mass and energy balances; b) gas flow, temperature and composition; c) dust concentration and recovery. This section includes a brief discussion of the "client-server chain", i.e. the links between the cooling equipment and the down-and up-stream operations. More in particular, the up-stream server relationship impacts on the operating stability of the furnace, and in turn on furnace down-time and Cu production losses; and the down-stream client relationship affects the operation of the electrostatic precipitators, in terms of workload and cost of handling larger quantities of dust of a given dust size The second section deals with the development of indexes to measure and compare value added through the "utilization, productivity and quality" that can be expected of both cooling methods at the physical and economic levels, and the impact on the overall smelter productivity and the final cost composition of copper. The final section presents the results and includes a discussion of the comparative advantages and disadvantages of both cooling systems.

Jan 1, 1999

By A. A. Bustos

Four Air Liquide Shrouded Injectors (ALSI ) were installed and operated for over one year in a Peirce-Smith converter at the Falconbridge nickel smelter in Falconbridge, Ontario, Canada. A shrouded injector consists of an inner pipe and an annulus, through which high oxygen enriched air and nitrogen flow, respectively The nitrogen cools the injector and protects the refractory in the vicinity of the injector tip, allowing for substantial increases in oxygen flow rates to the converting reactions. Several injector designs were tested to study the effect of changes in the cross-sectional area and changes in the entrance geometry of the annulus. An optimum design would minimize the injection pressure required for a given flow rate to achieve choked flow conditions at the tip of the injector. The operation of the ALSI was simple and did not require any special care or maintenance, either between blows or between converter cycles. In particular, the shrouded injectors did not require punching, as is the case with conventional tuyeres. In terms of refractory performance, the ALSI, operating at 30-40 % oxygen enrichment, were superior or equal to the conventional tuyeres, which operated at 21-23% oxygen. The results of the demonstration program led Falconbridge Limited to implement the ALSI technology on a commercial scale The paper presents the demonstration program results in terms of gas flow rates, accretion formation, punchless operation and refractory wear.

Jan 1, 1999

By M. Kawakami

In order to make titanium ingot directly from molten slag, the metal pool was tried to form and used as the cathode. The electro-slag remelting (ESR) unit was used for the purpose. The unit is composed of water-cooled copper mold and the DC power source of 2000 A and 100V. The graphite electrode was used for anode and the base plate was used for cathode. The commercial and re-melted slag of CaO-CaF2 was melted in the mold with the addition of TiO2. The following reactions are expected to occur. Ti4+ + 4e = Ti at cathode 2O2- + 2C = 2CO + 4e at anode During the process, large amount of molten slag splashed out from the mold, showing the CO evolution at anode. The metal deposit was obtained but in the form of block and piled up on the base plate. The metal pool was not obtained perfectly because of shortage of heat supply. The cathodic current efficiency was 60 % at maximum. The metal deposit contained much impurity. In order to reduce the impurity and increase the current efficiency, the effect of electrode distance was examined. The electro-slag re-melting of titanium was tried in order to examine the condition to make metal pool.

Jan 1, 2006

By Shun Myung Shin, Dong Hyo Yang

Cobalt is recovered from square type of spent lithium ion batteries (LIBs) containing 5~20 % Co, 5~7 % Li, 5~10 % Ni, 15% organic chemicals, and 7% plastics together with Cu, Al, Fe, and Mn. The waste LIB was prepared by physical treatment. After screening, the crushed LIBs were separated to +8 mesh, -8/+16 mesh, and -16 mesh powder. Among these, -16 mesh powder was selected for leaching. The leaching test was investigated at 2 M H2SO4, 6 vol.% H2O2, reaction temperature 60 ?, agitation speed 300 rpm, solid/liquid ratio 50 g/ 500 ml, reaction time 1 h. The leaching efficiency of cobalt was more than 99 % and its concentration was 24.9 g/L. For removing of impurities such as copper, iron, and aluminum in the leaching solution before cobalt solvent extraction, the impurities were eliminated by pH control with alkali solution. For selective extraction of cobalt, the aqueous phase removed impurities was equilibrated with different volumes of 0.4 M Cyanex 272 saponified of 50 %. Extraction efficiency of cobalt was about 80 % at first step. Separation coefficient (ßCo/Li) of cobalt and lithium extractions was 206.5. Over 9.0 % of pure cobalt sulfate solution was obtained after stripping with H2SO4 solution.

Jan 1, 2008

By A. Rohkohl, R. Piillenberg

The QSL plant at "BERZELIUS" Stolberg GmbH in Stolberg, Germany was commissioned in 1990, introducing a new era of lead smelting in the more than 150-year-old history of the lead smelter. The lead smelter in Stolberg has changed its appearance several times during its existence. Therefore, at many locations on the site, old and obsolete buildings and equipment parts can still be seen. They are often located side by side with new modern constructions like the QSL-plant and the mercury removal plant, and reflect the specific contrast between tradition and modern technology. After a brief description of the development of the smelter and its decision to implement the current novel plant, the most recent operating results are reported. Following some modifications to the process and equipment, which had become necessary along with the implementation of the new technology, the plant is in operation today at approximately 30% above its design capacity. These achieved production levels are not restricted by the QSL-reactor but by precedent and subsequent available equipment. The QSL-plant entirely complies with the demands of modern, energy-saving, ecologically compatible lead production technology. Stringent environmental standards are maintained on a continuing basis. The demonstrated viability and flexibility of the overall process permits the operation to adapt quickly to the prevailing economical situation worldwide.

Jan 1, 2000

By Richard Hollis

The Mount Isa copper smelter was expanded in 1998 to a capacity of over 250000 t/y anode copper. This tonnage will be produced from a single stream consisting of an Isasmelt smelting furnace, and four Peirce-Smith converters - one of which was installed as part of the expansion project. During the course of the expansion project Mount Isa Mines Limited (MIM) signed an agreement with WMC Fertilizers Ltd (WMCF) to supply sulphur containing smelter gases over the fence to a new sulphuric acid plant to be built by WMCF. This will result in a further increase in copper production by reducing the time when smelting is curtailed by Air Quality Control restrictions. As well as the need to modify the primary gas system to connect to the acid plant, the hoods and crossover ducts and their support structures on the original three converters required replacement, and secondary ventilation was also needed to improve converter aisle hygiene. Each of these areas was addressed by the project. Preliminary ideas for carrying out the modifications were found to have a serious impact on converter aisle operations, and would have led to a production loss of over 50000 tonnes of copper. Following benchmarking in other copper smelters, a suitable construction plan was developed and carried out to minimise this loss. This paper describes the methodology and construction plan adopted.

Jan 1, 1999

By Alpagut Kara

Turkey is the fifth biggest ceramic tile exporter in the world. Considering the expectation that the Turkish tile sector continues to expand, further studies both on the improvement and the development of tile formulations are necessary in order to make the producers advantaged in the world market while maintaining the capital and running costs at reasonably competitive levels as well. In addition to such studies, waste management in tile manufacturing has also recently become an important issue. Accordingly, the industrial use of wastes in the traditional ceramic industry has been intensively investigated in the recent years. This work describes part of a detailed research project carried out jointly on the possible re-use of muds (raw production waste) from glazing and pressing lines of a local tile company in the development of new wall and floor tile formulations. In order to achieve this, the waste material was firstly investigated in function of chemical and mineralogical compositions. Then, the particular focus was given to the presence of the waste material in increasing amounts on the thermal behaviour and physico-mechanical properties of the re-formulated tile bodies. During the studies, SEM in combination with EDS, and thermal analysis techniques such as non-contact dilatometry were widely employed. The results indicated that it was possible to use the waste materials in the commercial tile production without deteriorating the relevant technological properties.

Jan 1, 2006