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By Signe Kjelstrup, Leiv Kolbeinsen, Marit Takla, Odne Burheim

"This paper presents a Seebeck-type solid state thermoelectric power generator unit, designed to investigate the possible recovery of radiant waste heat at a silicon plant in Norway where roughly 703 of the total input energy leaves the process as waste heat. The unit is 0.5 m x 0.5 m and is built of 36 commercially available thermoelectric devices based on bismuth telluride p - and n - type semiconductors. Thermoelectric devices directly convert fractions of a heat flux into an electric current (and vice versa) and may therefore be convenient for recovery of waste heat when the heat source is discontinuously available. The purpose of the thermoelectric unit is to give a proof of principle of direct thermoelectric energy conversion on a large scale. We present the initial test results for the generator. At an average temperature difference between the heat reservoir and the heat sink of 98°C, we measured an open ciruit potential of 23.44 ± 0.06 V and the matched load power output was 39.4 W. At a temperature difference of 220°C, we predict the generator open circuit potential to be 40.8 V, which corresponds to an efficient Seebeck coefficient of 242 µV /K, and matched load power output to be 120 W.IntroductionThe world's power demand increases, driven by population growth and increase in living standards and simultaneously global warming is recognized as one of our most serious environmental problems. According to the International Energy Agency[l], the industrial sector accounted for approximately one third of the total global power consumption in 2005. Increasing the energy efficiency of industrial processes thus represents a benign and substantial route for addressing environmental concerns and energy security.In accordance with the second law of thermodynamics, all real processes are associated with lost work which is energy being dissipated as heat to the surroundings[2]. Improving the energy efficiency of industrial processes is about finding the process path associated with a minimum of lost work. The more evenly the losses are distributed, the smaller are the losses [3, 4]. In addition, exploiting the unavoidable waste heat will contribute to improve the energy efficiency. The waste heat may be utilized for heating purposes and/or it can be upgraded to work for instance via some sort of heat engine."

Jan 1, 2012

By A. González

Arsenic is one of the main contaminants present in Chilean copper concentrates and its abatement represents a challenge for the process metallurgy, particularly under the strong environmental requirements in the global community. The possibility to form ferric arsenate directly from a gas phase by means of a heterogeneous reaction between an arsenic gas bearing and iron oxide was studied at laboratory scale. A thermodynamical analysis for the system Fe-As-O-S has been initially made, in order to obtain the stability conditions for the ferric arsenate or other FeAsyO2 type compounds. Experiments were made using an hematite sample suspended in a thermogravimetric device. AS4O6 gas generated from solid AS2O3 that was passed through the iron oxide sample and its instantaneous weight change was recorded directly. A kinetic study for the AS4O6 volatilization was made to control the gas composition. A chemical control between 300 and 600°C with an apparent activation energy of around 14 Kcal/mol As2O3 was determined. The samples after the reactions were chemically and XRD analysed. Arsenates detected corresponds to complex compounds. Results shows a dependence on temperature and oxygen content in the gas phase. The kinetics for iron arsenates formation is slow, reaching an arsenic capture of 6% after 80 minutes of reaction when an oxygen content of 50% is fed continuously at 800°C and 3,56% As in the gas. Experiences made at the same temperature but under higher oxygen content in a closed reactor, allowed arsenic capture close to 60%. For higher temperatures the capture is considerably lower.

Jan 1, 2003

By A. González

Arsenic is one of the main contaminants present in Chilean copper concentrates and its abatement represents a challenge for the process metallurgy, particularly under the strong environmental requirements in the global community. The possibility to form ferric arsenate directly from a gas phase by means of a heterogeneous reaction between an arsenic gas bearing and iron oxide was studied at laboratory scale. A thermodynamical analysis for the system Fe-As-O-S has been initially made, in order to obtain the stability conditions for the ferric arsenate or other FexAs2O2 type compounds. Experiments were made using an hematite sample suspended in a thermogravimetric device. AS4O6 gas generated from solid AS203 that was passed through the iron oxide sample and its instantaneous weight change was recorded directly. A kinetic study for the AS4O6 volatilization was made to control the gas composition. A chemical control between 300 and 600°C with an apparent activation energy of around 14 Kcal/mol As2O3 was determined. The samples after the reactions were chemically and XRD analysed. Arsenates detected corresponds to complex compounds. Results shows a dependence on temperature and oxygen content in the gas phase. The kinetics for iron arsenates formation is slow, reaching an arsenic capture of 6% after 80 minutes of reaction when an oxygen content of 50% is fed continuously at 800°C and 3,56% As in the gas. Experiences made at the same temperature but under higher oxygen content in a closed reactor, allowed arsenic capture close to 60%. For higher temperatures the capture is considerably lower.

Jan 1, 2003

By Dengfu Chen, Mujun Long, Youguang Ma, Xin Xie, Xing Zhang, Leilei Zhang

"Processing parameters of a submerged entry nozzle (SEN) affect significantly on the patterns of fluid flow and temperature distribution in beam blank continuous casting mold with double SEN s. Effect of the geometry structure and immersion depth of double SEN s on the fluid flow in beam blank continuous casting mold was studied by water modeling. Results showed that, the optimal nozzle inner diameter was 40mm, and immersion depth was 70-90mm. The mold surface fluctuation, slag distribution, impact depth and removing rate of inclusion particles were discussed under different processing parameters of double SENs. As the results indicated, slag distribution was more non-homogeneous with a higher casting speed. The results provided basic data for the design and optimization of SENs used in beam blank continuous casting mold.IntroductionNear-net-shape casting has the distinct advantages of less rolling procedures, higher metal recovery and lower energy cost. Therefore, in the recent decades, one of the recent trends in the steel making process is moving toward near net shape casting. in which beam blank casting is a typical technology. The schematic section of beam blank is shown in Fig 1."

Jan 1, 2014

By Mototsugu Matsuno

A new process has been developed to treat fly ash generated from municipal incinerators, which contains not only toxic metals such as lead and cadmium, but also dioxins. The process includes the following steps; fly ash is formed into green pellets with some additives and the pellets are then roasted to eliminate or stabilize the toxic metals and to decompose dioxins. A pilot plant with a capacity of approximately 100 kg/hr was used to test the process. The tests verified that heavy metals were either volatilized or stabilized and dioxins were decomposed by high-temperature roasting. The pelletized ash was found to be non-toxic, so that it can be recycled as artificial lightweight aggregate. It was also found that volatilized metals collected as secondary ash can be recycled as smelting resources.

Jan 1, 2003

By Ben Q. Li

An efficient numerical algorithm for solving steady state heat transfer and solidification problems is described. The algorithm is of boundary integral type and is based on the formulation of the field variables along the boundary of the domain of interest. Compared with the familiar domain-based methods, such as the finite element and finite difference (or finite volume) methods, this boundary-based method has an advantage of solving fewer unknowns and hence has a potential for reducing computational time significantly. Another and yet more important advantage of the present algorithm is that it is a stable scheme and is not prone to numerical oscillations resulting from convective effects, as often encountered in the domain-based methods. Therefore, no numerical or artificial diffusion (such as streamline upwinding) is necessary. Numerical examples are presented that are drawn from processing systems for producing aluminum-based materials.

Jan 1, 1994

By Run Huang, Xuewei Lv, Songli Liu, Chenguang Bai

"Titanium alloy was prepared from titania-bearing blast furnace slag (Ti-BF slag) by aluminothermic process in an induction furnace. The effects of aluminum amount on the titanium silicon yield and titanium recovery ratio were studied. The phase transformation and chemical composition of the prepared alloy were investigated by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) respectively. It was found that the mass fraction of silicon and aluminum increased with increasing the aluminum amount, however, the mass fraction of titanium increased first and then decreased with increasing the aluminum amount. Furthermore, both the titanium alloy yield and titanium recovery ratio increased with the increase of aluminum amount. The main phases of the alloy were TixSiy and AlTi3. The titanium alloy samples prepared in various conditions had a composition (wt.%): 38–50% Ti, 29-34% Si, 4-11 Al%, 1.6-2.2 Mn%.IntroductionPanzhihua and Xichang regions in the southwest of China are rich in vanadium-titanium magnetite containing iron, vanadium, titanium and gangue. According to the characteristics of the resource, iron and vanadium are successfully recovered with a blast furnace process and a converter process. However, most content of titanium are entered in the blast furnace slag with TiO2 22% -26% and metallic Fe 2%–6% called Ti-BF slag. Due to the dispersed distribution of Ti in various fine grained mineral phases with a complex combination between Ca, Al and Si, it is difficult to recover the Ti components[1]. This slag is generated at a current rate of 3.6 million tons per year, which adds to the existing 70 million tons of slag produced so far[2]. The slag has had to be piled as large as the mountains, which not only waste of resources but also cause a pollution of the environment. Therefore, the study of integrated utilizing Ti-BF slag has become very significant."

Jan 1, 2012

By Xiaojie Gao, Shufeng Yang, Jingshe Li, Chengsong Liu

In the blast furnace process, the dust entrained in the blast furnace gas enters into the down-comer, flows through the gravity dust separator (to eliminate coarse particles) and then is collected in a bag-house. The powder collected by the baghouse is called bag dust, while both fractions are called blast furnace dust whose main components are C and Fe. The dust also contains small amounts of nonferrous metals such as Zn and Pb, which have some value. Also, due to the small particle size and low density the dust is easily suspended in air and so can endanger human health. Therefore it is necessary to develop a process to both treat the dust to recover the metal values and to dispose of the residue – preferably by recycling to the blast furnace itself via the sinter strand. These objectives will result in good economic, environmental and social benefits [1].

Jan 1, 2014

By T. Nagano

Mitsubishi Metal Corporation started the development work of a new process for continuous production of copper in 1961. After a series of experimental and semi-commercial operations, the first commercial plant of the Mitsubishi Continuous Copper Smelting and Converting Process was put into operation in March, 1974. The new plant, which has a design capacity of 4,000 metric ton copper per month, was built within the premises of Naoshima Smelter, replacing the old No.1 reverberatory smelter there. The SO2-rich exhaust gas from this new plant is blended with the off-gas of the No.2 reverberatory furnace for production of sulfuric acid and the overall emission of sulfur at Naoshima has been greatly reduced. The operation of the continuous plant has been satisfactory and several advantageous features of the Mitsubishi Process have been proven on a commercial scale. This paper first gives a brief description of the history of the development work and the characteristic features of the process. The paper then describes the new commercial plant and operating data obtained so far.

Jan 1, 1976

By Rolando Campos

Until 1970, the Caletones Smelter of CODELCO-CHILE, División El Teniente, operated under the conventional pyrometallurgical process used by most of copper smelters. The annual copper production varied around 165.000 tons. The failure in the commissioning of the "oxygen smelting" technology in Peirce- Smith converters (1970-1972), forced further introduction of transcendental changes in the Caletones smelter operating scheme. Implemented technological innovations were based on wide studies and research works performed by División El Teniente. This paper presents a summary of technological modifications introduced, their impact on production and energetic performances, and short and medium terms improvement plans.

Jan 1, 1993

By Huimin Lu, Shi Zhou, Lisha Yang

"The Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) were successfully synthesized by applying a combination of ionothermal synthesis and microwave energies for rapid synthesis. The synthesis was proceeded under various conditions including different raw materials, reaction temperature as well as microwave irradiation time. Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), also known as coordination polymers, are new type of porous materials formed by inerratic polyhedral in three-dimensional. They are the ideal crystalline substances for gas separation and storage. The assynthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and C02 adsorption test. Results illustrated that the synthesized samples had stable structure, high thermal stability (up to 530 °C) and C02 adsorption capacity (10.2 cm3/g at 0°C under ambient pressure). This novel method also showed great advantage with high energy efficiency, safe synthesis conditions, and rapid crystallization time (60 minutes).IntroductionNowadays, carbon dioxide capture has become imperative due to the global warming caused by the increase of C02 in the atmosphere, especially produced by the concentrated sources such as power plants [1]. Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), also known as coordination polymers, are ideal crystalline substances for gas separation and storage due to their structure diversity, high thermal and chemical stability [2-5]. They are formed by inerratic polyhedra in threedimensional with large cages and small apertures. Traditionally, ZIFs are synthesized by solvothermal method in a sealed autoclave under autogenous pressure [6-9]. However, in order to generate the products, the solvothermal temperature should not be lower than 100°C according to the sovlothermal mechanism. Moreover, at such a temperature, molecules with a low boiling point (such as water) may generate high pressure in reactor which might cause danger [9]. Thus the synthesis requires the equipment to possess resistance to autogenous pressure and corrosion. Further, conventional solvothermal methods need a long time to prepare products, usually a few days, which is a large energy consumption and inefficiency. So it is interesting to synthesis ZIFs through other ways under mild reaction condition with high energy efficiency."

Jan 1, 2012

By Yongzhong Xiao, Tiejun Chun, Jian Pan, Deqing Zhu

"An innovative process of reverse floatation-direct reduction-low intensity magnetic separation was developed to effectively beneficiate the superfine run-of-mine (ROM) ore mined from Hunan Province, China. Mineralogy was measured that the ROM ore is of superfine low grade hematite ore type, assaying 27.2wt%Fetotal and with main valuable minerals of hematite occurring at size between 3 to 5µm. The upgrading results show that the final iron concentrate, assaying 88.3wt%Fe total and 94.5% metallization degree was obtained at an overall iron recovery of 69.9% under the following conditions: rough concentration by grinding of ROM up to 88.7% passing 0.074 mm and reverse flotation at pH=9.4, 100 g/t starch and 200 g/t dodecylamine (DDA), and coal reducing the rough concentrate pellets containing 12% calcium containing complex additive at 1200 oC for 120 min, and finally magnetic separation of the reduced pellets by grinding up to 89.2% passing 0.043 mm at 0.08 T field intensity.IntroductionWith the rapid development of iron and steel industry in China, there has been a soaring demand for iron ores in the past decade. The imports of iron ores have increased from 148 million ton in 2003 to 628 million ton in 2009 [1]. Iron making industries increasingly demand for high grade raw materials to improve product quality and reduce operation cost. However, availability of high grade natural ores is limited and enrichment of lower grade ores is necessary to meet the demand. Therefore, large quantities of superfine low grade iron resources are necessary to utilize in China at the moment."

Jan 1, 2011

By Asmo Vartiainen

The viscosity of liquid Fe-O-SiO2 -slag at copper smelting conditions was investigated using a rotational viscometer. The studied parameters were oxygen partial pressure (10" °-10"6 bar ); composition of slag (Fe/SiO2 ratio), and temperature (1250-1400°C). The viscosity values are presented as a function of Fe/SiO2 ratio and as isoviscosity curves in ternary FeO-Fe2O3-SiO2 diagrams. The increase in viscosity at high silica contents can be accounted for the polymerisation effect of SiO4/4- -anions. At high ferric iron contents, higher oxygen partial pressure, the viscosity values increase especially near the magnetite saturation. The viscosity values are highest at the double saturation of silica and magnetite. At lower silica and ferric iron contents the viscosity values are more uniform in the homogenous liquid slag area. The viscosity values were lowest at high temperatures and highest at low temperatures.

Jan 1, 1998

By John Dasher

One of our War Plants processed Bolivian concentrates as low as 17% Sn by the Arnhem process (pressure leach with HCL) and sent the waste acid down a ditch to Galveston Bay where the chlorides, mostly iron, hydrolyzed. Oyster men, and Texas, demandedimpoundment until a disposal process could be developed. A recycle process found by lab work was recommended, piloted and a plant built. This involved cementation of As Sb, Cu, Bi and Ag on light moving scrap iron and of Sn & Pb on Al turnings (then not recyclable), evaporation and crystallization of hydrous FeCl2, roasting crystals in a muffle furnace and absorbing HCI for reuse. The residue from leaching the low grade concentrates was floated to remove undissolved sulfides, classified and passed over sand and slimes tables to get a smeltable concentrate, a discardable sand tail and a slimes tail worth treating After desliming at 2 micro meters cassiterite, oxide flotation gave good, lab results; but commercial equipment wasn't adequate then. Chloride volatilization, with or without smelting gave high recoveries of Sn as SnCl2, whose marketing was questionable. I have heard this was finally fluxed and smelted.

Jan 1, 1992

By Roma T. Dec

Many industrial wastes may require preliminary processing to change their particle size, density, surface properties or flowability to become more suitable for treatment and recycle. This can be achieved by pressure agglomeration using roll presses. In the following paper an overview of various roll press processing methods like briquetting, compacting, compacting-granulating or densification is presented together with basics of process and equipment design. The emphasis is focused on major factors influencing compaction process and responsible for pressure build up and final product quality. Finally, two examples of roll press application for briquetting of steel plant wastes and compaction of alumina base catalyst tailings are introduced.

Jan 1, 1996

By Zhiqian Zhang, Chao Wu, Chao Li, Hongxu Li, Chuanqi Jiao

"Many used electronic and optical products contain cerium of rare earth oxides, but it is difficult to recover such rare earth compounds by traditional metallurgy methods. The proposed supercritical water metallurgy is a novel way, perhaps it will be very helpful for rare element recycling, but the thermodynamic properties at such special systems is not clear. In the paper the H20-CeO-CeO2 and H2O-CeO2-Ce2O3 ternary system phase diagram were produced under the pressure of30MPa with different temperature of350°C, 375°C and 400°C. The stability existing area of possible cerium compounds and different ions like Ce2+,Ce3+,Ce4+,W,HO2-,0ff ,CeOH2+,CeO+ and CeO2· were determined.IntroductionCerium is an extensively used metal element playing an important role in the rare earth elements. CeO2 is an apparently simple binary oxide with cubic fluorite structure [l]. Ce0O gives rise to a range of important technological applications because of its oxygen storage capacity at moderate temperatures as below: CeO2=CeO2.x+ X/2O2 [2]. The oxygen storage phenomenon gives ceria important technological uses in different fields as automobile exhaust purification catalyst [3-4], fluorescent powder, ultraviolet absorption material [5], polishing powder, fuel cell materials [ 6], and gas sensors, etc. The excellent properties of CeO2 nano powder make its synthesis and preparation become one of the hot spots of world scientists study."

Jan 1, 2013

By Shufang Ding, Fukun Yan, Zhiqiang Shan, Wei Chen, Cuicui Ji

"To remove aluminum ion from chlorinated rare earth solution, this paper used hydrolysis method to explore the hydrolysis behavior of aluminum ion in aluminum chloride solution and confirm the optimum conditions of aluminum ion hydrolysis, which are pH value, temperature and initial concentration of Al203 and so on. The experimental results show that single treatment can make aluminum precipitation rates of chlorinated rare earth solution reach about 90% by hydrolysis precipitation; and then several recycle disposal can get precipitation rates of 89% for aluminum and 2.86% for rare earth.IntroductionIn China, rare earth resources are very rich and unique minerals, complete variety, and rare earth products are very large in the domestic reserves. Rare-earth and application products have been deep into all areas of our life, permanent magnet material of rare earth is one of the most popular application areas[11. Binary oxides such as praseodymium neodymium have been widely applied in the fields of glass, ceramics, magnetic materials, catalysts and so on. Especially, the advent of the Pr-Nd-Fe-B magnets which makes the world magnetic material into a new stage of development [2•3]With the development of science and technology, for industrial, physical and chemical indicators of raw materials Pr-Nd oxides (such as particle size, specific surface area and non rare earth impurities etc.) are also getting higher and higher. The oxide size has an important influence on sludge formation in the electrolytic process. If the size is too large, added oxides have settled on the bottom of slot before melting, and then generated sludge; if the particle is too small, it can cause dust dispersion, enlarge oxide unit consumption and increase the cost of production in the charging process. Some early processes use oxalic acid to make chloride neodymium praseodymium settle, and impurity can be removed cleanly, but the cost is high, it is not suitable for production. At present, most enterprises are using ammonium hydrogen carbonate to precipitate chlorinated neodymium praseodymium, but chlorinated neodymium praseodymium such as iron and aluminum and so on can easily form gel in the precipitation process, seriously affect the growth of neodymium praseodymium carbonate crystal and often leads to particle meticulous, even may also generate gel-like neodymium praseodymium sediments and cause centrifugal or suction filtration difficult. Now the actions and their removal of impurity such as iron and aluminum have done a lot of research in the production process of rare earth, removing aluminum craft with alkaline (sodium hydroxide) and acid (oxalic acid) has good effect, but the cost is higher[41; used adding complex agent to remove aluminum method which is simple and easy to operate, but aluminum removal rate is not high, and also changed the sediment of crystal type[51, and etc. This paper discusses the removal of chlorine from rare earth solution on the basis of the hydrolysis property differences betweenAJ3+ and rare earth ion."

Jan 1, 2013

By J. M. Boxall

The electrolytic zinc plant at the Bartlesville division of Z.C.A. originally used lead anodes containing only 0.25% silver because only H.G. zinc and alloy was to be produced. In 1984, a small addition of strontium carbonate was made to control the surf ace morphology of the cathodes which reduced short circuits and increased current efficiency. Later a drastic reduction in colloid addition further reduced short circuits. Increased strontium additions allowed the production of some S.H.G. zinc. Increasing the silver content of the anodes reduced the lead in cathodes only slightly. More important, the anode scale that was not removed during anode cleaning, entered the electrolyte and contaminated the cathodes with lead. A piping system has been installed to purge the contaminated electrolyte directly back to the leaching section. This has allowed the plant to produce S.H.G. zinc consistently.

Jan 1, 1990

By Yanlong Li, Lifeng Zhang, Ying Ren

In this work, a multiphase mathematical model for the fluid flow in argon-stirred steel ladles was established and validated by experimental measurement of wood's metal. Alloy dispersion in the molten steel was calculated. The melting and mixing of alloy was faster with smaller size of the alloy particles, larger superheat and bigger slip velocity. The current mixing time is approximately 300 s with 30 mm alloy diameter and 91.5 K superheat.

Jan 1, 2014

By Liangju He, Peixuan Ouyang, Peijie Li

Single-pulse laser ablation of aluminum and titanium alloys under glass confinement is investigated. Processing parameters such as laser intensity and gap width between targets and glass are varied. Surface morphologies and crater profiles of the alloys after laser ablation are studied by SEM and white-light interferometric microscope, respectively. The effects of gap width and laser intensity on surface morphologies and crater profiles of targets are systematically analyzed. In addition, the generation of porous surface structures in Ti target is regarded as the result of phase explosion in the molten surface layer of targets and the thermodynamic condition in our experiment for phase explosion is evaluated.

Jan 1, 2016