Search Documents

By Cailing Zhen, Jian Pan, Deqing Zhu, Xianlin Zhou, Yanhong Luo, Guixiang Huang

The grate-kiln process has been widely applied for oxide pellet production with the quick development of steel industry in China, but ring formation takes place which adversely affects the productivity and properties of fired pellets. Rotary kiln at high temperature seems a black box, and ring formation is difficult to measure directly by current technology. It’s of great importance to monitor ring formation during firing of pellets. Therefore, a method for estimating the thickness of ring formation in rotary kilns was studied, based on working out theoretically the relationship between ring thickness and the outside surface of the kiln, according to steady-state heat transfer across a cylinder, which provides a soft-sensing technique for ring formation at high temperature, and achieves stable pellet production .

Jan 1, 2015

By Youn-Bae Kang, Jong-Jin Pak, Min-Kyu Paek

The critical evaluation and thermodynamic optimization of Mn-Si-C and its sub-binary systems have been carried out over the whole composition range from room temperature to above the liquidus temperature. The solution properties of the liquid systems have not been clearly described because the liquid solution exhibits a high degree of short-range-ordering. In order to predict the thermodynamics of the liquid solution, the liquid phases were optimized by the modified quasichemical model. The model parameters of the solid phases were also optimized by the compound energy formalism to best reproduce the phase diagram and important thermodynamic properties in Mn-Si-C system. Using the model parameters, various thermodynamic calculations were carried out. The present database will be a part of larger thermodynamic database for the ferromanganese alloy database.

Jan 1, 2014

By G.A Subagyo

The condition of slag in a pyrometallurgical reactor is vital to ensuring control of the process. A new technique based on multivariate image analysis (MIA) of digital images has been developed to provide an online measurement of important slag characteristics, such as the presence of exposed metal, the presence of solid phases, and temperature. This paper shall describe the technique and provide some results from analysis using industrial plant data.

Jan 1, 2003

By Guo Chen, Jin Chen, Jinhui Peng

In this study, the influences of the green evaluation variables on the characterization of microwave shaft furnaces were systematically investigated. These variables include: resource consumption, environment impact, production cost, processing time and quality of microwave shaft furnaces. A greenness evaluation index, evaluation system and evaluation model of microwave shaft furnaces were established. The analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation were applied to the evaluation process. Resource consumption and environment impact had a statistically significant effect on the green evaluation of microwave shaft furnaces. The results indicated that green evaluation techniques can be applied effectively and efficiently to the process manufacturing of microwave shaft furnaces.

Jan 1, 2015

By Shengli Wu, Feng Chang, Hua Lu, Jianliang Zhang

Kinetic studies of the blast furnace dust (BFD) reduction process have been carried out under non-isothermal conditions. BFD pellets were made with bentonite as the binder. A Comprehensive Thermal Analyzer (TG-DSC) was used to determine the mass loss of pellets, which were heated at three heating rates of 10, 20, 30 K/min up to 1493 K. Furthermore, the metallization rate and mineral composition of BFD pellets heated to several different temperatures were analyzed by chemical analysis and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was found that, with its inherent carbon resources as the reducing agent, the metallization rate of BFD pellets could reach 88% at most. The reduction and weight loss process of iron oxides mainly happens above 1273 K. In addition, from application of the Coats-Redfern equation the apparent activation energy of the reduction from wustite to Fe was 443 kJ/mol and the mechanism was interface reaction R..

Mar 1, 2017

By Senlin Cui, In-ho Jung

Significant amount of commercial aircrafts will be retired in 2020, and the recycling of Al components in such aircrafts becomes an important issue in aerospace and Al industry. Recycling of Al from obsoleted Al products can effectively reduce the energy consumption and CO2 emission which is more economical and ecofriendly. In the present study, thermodynamic analysis for the various recycling technologies of Al alloys were performed based on the comprehensive and accurate thermodynamic database. The recycling technologies reviewed in this work include the vaporization process to reduce Zn, precipitation process to reduce Fe, Mn, Si, Ti, Zr, flux treatment for Al 2O3 and MgO, etc. Several key issues and limitation of the recycling of the aircraft Al were discussed. The recycling technologies discussed can also be utilized to recycle other Al alloys for common usage. All the thermodynamic calculations were performed using the FactSage FTlite database.

Mar 1, 2017

By Wenxuan Xu, Shusen Cheng, Guolei Zhao

According to cross beam temperature measuring data of stock surface gas flow in blast furnace production process, using zoning method to deal with stock surface gas flow cross beam temperature measuring data, the evaluation system of stock surface gas flow distribution in radial direction and circumferential direction was established. Central index, platform index and edge index were proposed to evaluate stock surface gas flow distribution in radial direction, global uniform index and local uniform index were proposed to evaluate stock surface gas flow distribution in circumferential direction. Combined with actual production of 5500 m3 blast furnace and typical morphology of stock surface gas flow distribution,the strength of stock surface gas flow distribution was divided into five grades to provide guidance for the optimization of blast furnace operation.

Mar 1, 2017

By Elizabeth Carvalho L. Cardoso, Ademar B. Lugão, Sandra R. Scagliusi

This research investigated how gamma-radiation affected PP/HMSPP structural foams filled with biodegradable synthetic polyester PLA in terms of thermal properties, biodegradability and infrared spectrum. Polymers are used in various applications providing enormous quantities of wastes in environment and contributing with 20–30% of total volume of solid residues. Besides, shortage of plastics resins obtained from fossil base is addressing research and development toward alternative materials; environmental concerning in litter reduction is being directed to renewable polymers for manufacturing of polymeric foams. Biodegradable polymers, a new generation of polymers produced from various natural resources, environmentally safe and friendly, can contribute for pollution reduction. PLA (poly(lactic) acid)) was chosen to be blended with PP/HMSPP. Blends thereof were subjected to gamma radiation at 50, 100, 150, 200 and 500 kGydoses.Soilburialtestpointedtowardapartialbiodegradationofirradiated PLA-PP/HMSPP foams; other characterizations involved TG/DTG technique and FTIR assessments.

Mar 1, 2017

By John J. Dunkley

Recent years have seen the increased use of hydrometallurgy in the smelting and refining of metals. However this is often used as a final refining step, following an initial pyrometallurgical smelting process. Huge amounts of material are produced as melts which have to be cast, comminuted, and taken up into solution or leached. A common method is to granulate the melt and then grind it. In the case of metallic melts this can be difficult or unfeasible due to the ductility of the granulated particles. Water atomisation is capable of replacing the granulation and grinding stages with a single process step that can process in excess of 30tlhour of melt into particles as fine as 50 microns. Applications in operation in Co, Cu, Ni, Ag, Au, Pt and Rh refining are discussed together with potential applications in copper smelting.

Jan 1, 2003

By W. Dutton, D. Simms

"The clearing of tuyeres on copper and nickel converters or similar metallurgical, vessels has, for many years, been done using mainly a manually- operated ""puncher"". One such device is the ""Gaspe Puncher"" developed in 1962 at Noranda's Gaspe Smelter. In an attempt to remove the operator from the cab of the Puncher, and to relieve him of a tedious, uncomfortable job, Noranda's Horne Division, in cooperation with Heath & Sherwood (1964) Limited and the Noranda Research Centre, undertook to automate the Gaspe Puncher used on the Noranda Continuous Smelting Process Reactor.The automated puncher is controlled by a Texas Instruments Model 530C Programmable Controller (PLC). Position measurement and control is done using non-contact position measuring equipment from the Tele-Controls Division of Geodimeter Inc. The entire automation system was installed on an existing Gaspe Puncher with minimum disruption to the operation of the smelting process. The operator's panel allows the user to ""block out"" any individual tuyere, and to select any of a variety of operating modes.The development of the automated puncher is described, and the results of several months operation are given.IntroductionThe tuyeres of copper and nickel converters and similar metallurgical vessels become blocked with solidified material formed by the cooling action of the blowing air. This restricts the converting operation. Clearing these blocked tuyeres has for many years been done mainly using a manually-operated ""puncher"" which uses a hydraulic or pneumatically-operated piston to drive a steel bar into the tuyere. The Gaspe Puncher, developed at Noranda's Gaspe Smelter in 1962 is one such device. It is currently being built and sold by Heath & Sherwood (1964) Limited, under license to Noranda. There are over 200 units in operation world-wide.In an attempt to remove the Puncher operator from the cab of the Puncher, and to relieve him of a tedious, uncomfortable job, and to increase productivity, Noranda's Horne Division, in cooperation with Heath & Sherwood (1964) Limited and the Noranda Research Centre, undertook to automate the Gaspe Puncher used on the Noranda Continuous Smelting Process Reactor. This paper describes the development of the automated Gaspe Puncher, its installation at the Horne Smelter, and the results of its operation after several months."

Jan 1, 1989

During electrowinning of nickel chloride, hydrochloric acid was regenerated instead of chlorine in a two membrane cell, by segregating the chloride catholyte with an anion exchange membrane, and the sulphate anolyte with a cation exchange membrane from the middle electrolyte (ampholyte) compartment. Successful operation of such a cell depends on controlling chloride leakage through the cation exchange membrane to the anolyte. Small amounts of chlorine gas could be detected in the oxygen evolved at the anode. In this paper, the chloride. leakage as a function of various types of cation exchange membrane and different composition of the anolyte is reported and discussed. Ag+ was added to the anolyte to eliminate chloride leakage to the anode. The cell voltage, electrode potential and voltage drop over the membrane as a function of current density has also been investigated.

Jan 1, 1996

By M. Opler

Presently, only a few large copper refineries are able to produce Grade A cathodes from copper scrap. Today's technology needs large plants for smelting, converting or refining the main impurities and casting the anodes for electrolytic refining. A new ECUPREX® PROCESS, by-passes all pyrometallurgical operations and produces directly copper cathodes starting from copper scrap with high lead and tin contamination. Copper scrap from chopped cables, copper cements and electronic scrap are suitable feed for ECUPREX® PROCESS. This process uses a non-conventional electrolyte and produces a surprisingly high quality, smooth cathode assaying only few ppms of total metallic impurities. Bench-scale work followed by a successful mini-pilot plant run, has led to the construction of an operating pilot plant equipped with a 1,000 Ampere cell. The results of the operations of this pilot plant are presented and described in this paper.

Jan 1, 1995

By Philip L. LeHoux

"Kennecott Barneys Canyon Mining Co. is a gold heap leaching facility that has been in operation since 1989. In 1994, a flotation plant was commissioned to remove sulphide minerals from refractory sulphide ore. Tailings from the plant are mixed with oxide heap leach material in order to produce a geotechnically stable agglomerate from which the gold is leached and recovered in a conventional heap leach cyanidation process. The experience to arrive at an effective blending methodology is discussed.IntroductionAgglomeration is the practice of binding fine particles to coarser rock or other fines in order to avoid the deleterious effects of mobilizing the fines during the course of heap leaching(l-Chamberlin). Agglomeration has been considered a key component of successful operation at many heap leach sites. If the ore is of sedimentary origin and crushed, there is a high likelihood that the resulting product will contain a significant quantity of fines and a skewed gradation, that i~, a disproportionate amount of coarse and fine particles, with few in the intermediate size range. The exact methodology for determining whether the practice of agglomeration will have to be integrated into the operating scheme has been well discussed. These conditions are primarily geotechnical and geochemical. This paper will deal with the specific experiences of Kennecott Barneys Canyon Mining Company in modifying the agglomeration practices to suit evolving operational requirements."

Jan 1, 1997

By Stavros A. Argyropoulos

Exothermic mass transfer takes place in various areas involving metallic systems, ranging from liquid metal processing operations to the growth of thin films in microelectronics. The formation of intermetallic compounds plays an important role in the exothermic mass transfer of metallic systems. Two types of exothermicity are identified , namely , Microexothermicity and Macroexothermicity. The former is encountered when small amounts of metals are mixed, while the latter is exhibited when a solid metal in a lump form is added into liquid metal. In this paper two types of exothermic mass transfer in metallic systems will be presented and reviewed. Mathematical modelling work for these types of exothermic mass transfer will be analyzed.

Jan 1, 1993

By Gil Bourcier

A process has been developed for detoxifying spent potliner (SPL) in which the SPL is blended with limestone and an anti-agglomeration agent and thermally treated in a rotary kiln. The process has been proven and a commercial plant is in operation at Gum Springs, Arkansas. The treated by-product material has been delisted by the U.S. EPA and is now a potential raw material for many commercial applications. Finding uses for a non-hazardous material has many advantages over finding uses for a hazardous material like SPL. Complete usage of the by-product will complete the life cycle and eliminate any landfilling of non-hazardous SPL by-products or residues. Being non-hazardous and containing compounds used in the ceramic and numerous other industries assures many potential uses for the spent potliner by-product.

Jan 1, 1994

By John J. Dunkley

Recent years have seen the increased use of hydrometallurgy in the smelting and refining of metals. However this is often used as a final refining step, following an initial pyrometallurgical smelting process. Huge amounts of material are produced as melts which have to be cast, comminuted, and taken up into solution or leached. A common method is to granulate the melt and then grind it. In the case of metallic melts this can be difficult or unfeasible due to the ductility of the granulated particles. Water atomisation is capable of replacing the granulation and grinding stages with a single process step that can process in excess of 30t/hour of melt into particles as fine as 50 microns. Applications in operation in Co, Cu, Ni, Ag, Au, Pt and Rh refining are discussed together with potential applications in copper smelting.

Jan 1, 2003

By K. Krishnapisharody, G. A. Irons

"The modeling of gas-liquid plumes in steelmaking ladles has been the subject of many investigations. In most studies, the “modified” Froude number, based on the momentum of the injected gas, has been employed to characterize two-phase plumes. This approach has several shortcomings and is critically reviewed in the present work. Based on an extensive review of previous work and theoretical considerations, it is demonstrated that the injected momentum and consequently, the modified Froude number has no significance to gas blowing operations in Ladle Metallurgy. Instead, an approach based on the “plume” Froude number, previously shown by the authors as the proper form for Froude similarity, is extended as a simpler alternative.IntroductionGas injection is central to most Ladle Metallurgy operations. During ladle processing, the steel melt is usually stirred by an inert gas like Argon through porous plug(s) fitted in the bottom of the ladle or a lance inserted deep into the melt. The purging serves several purposes viz., homogenizing the melt, flotation of inclusions, enhancing the rates both of refining reactions and dissolution of alloying elements and promoting inter-phase interactions in the ladle.The topic of gas injection into liquid baths has been the subject of several investigations in the past. A great deal of this work, both experimental and computational, was devoted to describing the structure and properties of two-phase plumes as reviewed recently [1]. Generally, the ascending two-phase mixture is sub-divided into three distinct regions [2]: the jet core, transition and the bubble plume, respectively. The jet region, where the momentum of the injected gas is transferred to the bulk liquid, is also called the ‘momentum region’. In a similar manner, the plume is called the ‘buoyancy region’ where the motion of liquid is caused by the buoyancy force exerted by the bubbles. The proper characterization of these regions is important for the analysis and modeling of stirring operations in Ladle Metallurgy. Although many mathematical correlations exist for this purpose, some issues of theoretical and practical interest to the modeling of gas-liquid plumes need further attention."

Jan 1, 2012

By Fjeldstad Karin Jusnes

Two quartz types used in the silicon and ferrosilicon industry were heated to temperatures of 1600 and 1700 °C. The parameters varied were the temperature and the holding time at maximum temperature. The amount of quartz, cristobalite and intermediate amorphous phase were measured using XRD and the internal standard method. Type P showed a much larger ability to transform to cristobalite at lower temperatures than type A. Type P had a larger amount of alkali and alkaline earth impurities. This could have enhanced the transformation to cristobalite. For quartz type A the amount of cristobalite was larger at 1600 °C than 1700 °C. This can also be seen for some of the samples of type P at shorter holding times.

By Vincent Canaguier

Methane is increasingly considered as a promising reductant for metal oxides, including chromite. To assess the possibilities of such reduction route, the gas-solid reactions between Ar–CH4–H2 gas mixtures and synthetic chromites are studied between 950 and 1050 °C. The influence of Mg and Al additions on the reduction-caburization of (Fe,Mg)(Cr,Al)2O4 solid solution is investigated thermodynamically, structurally and kinetically. The product phases are examined by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). The reaction rate is derived from real-time exhaust gas measurements and post-reaction product analyses such as oxygen analysis. Kinetic models are proposed based on the product phase morphologies and confronted with the empirical data.

By Zhijing Zhang

Sodium borosilicate is the basic composition of coating materials, Vycor and Pyrex glasses. In the present study, viscosities of Na2O-Si02-B2O3 ternary melts were measured under various compositions and temperatures. Experiments were carried out using rotary viscometer and graphite components. Our experimental results were compared with those in literature. Based on present experimental results, the previous structure based viscosity model was modified. The predicted viscosity results are in excellent agreement with the present experimental data in the temperature range with molten state samples. The fitting ranges of the model cover the composition of XB2O3 from 0.1 to 0.6 combined with xSio2 / xNa2O = 0.5, 1,2 and 5 respectively.

Jan 1, 1998