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By A. V. Tarasov

The lack of technology for processing of sub-grade ore concentrates and intermediate products for extraction of Zn, Pb, Cu and precious metals at the metallurgical stage was a constraint for an increase in the production of these metals. The technology developed in the Gintsvetmet Institute is based on an improved electrothermal smelting process for treating calcined charge, ensuring thereby a reduction in power requirement and improving the environmental performance of the process. Electric smelting of sub-grade polymetallic concentrates produces lead bullion, to which the bulk of gold and silver reports, as well as well segregated matte and slag concentrating the bulk of zinc. Lead bullion and matte are commercial-grade products; zinc is recovered from high-grade (15% Zn) slag by slag fuming process. Reduced loss of precious metals in slag ensured by the given technology is attributed to the fact that the slag contacts with matte with low contents of gold, silver and lead, rather than with lead bullion. Limited amounts of off-gas typical of electrothermal processes ensure cost-effective operation of dust recovery devices and a reduction in emissions of harmful pollutants into the ambient air.

Jan 1, 2002

By W. Zhao

Several years ago, Reddy and Blander presented upriori model for calculating the sulfide capacity of binary silicate melts. It is modified now to apply to CaO-AlO 1.5 melts at different temperatures and compositions. Our predictions are in very good agreement with the available experimental data. From a comparison of binary calcium aluminate and calcium silicate systems, higher sulfide capacities are obtained in aluminate systems. The sulfur can be removed from hot metal more effectively by adding aluminate melts.

Jan 1, 1995

By John Nauman

Liquid ferrous silicates that are related to cop- per slags have been studied as media for the transfer of heat in pyrometallurgical processes. The effective thermal diffusivities have been measured from 1025Oto 1400°C, and values in the range of 0.004 to 0.007 cm2/ sec have been obtained. The heat-transfer characteristics of these slags have been determined by measuring the rise of temperature of a cold nickel sphere immersed in the liquid slag. The sphere is spun about its vertical axis to obtain a well characterized flow of liquid about the sphere. The principal barrier to the transfer of heat from the bulk slag to the metal sphere is a solid shell of slag that forms around the sphere and subsequently melts. It appears that the detailed nature of this shell is important to theheat- transfer process. A mathematical model is used to predict the rate of heating of the sphere, and to evaluate various aspects of the system that can influence the transfer of heat.

Jan 1, 1976

By Mark Tjerkstra

In ,1993, the WMC Resources Ltd.-owned Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter, underwent a capacity upgrade. This capacity increase was offset by .air quality control restrictions limiting the smelter's availability to 80%. As the direct. result of this limitation, WMC Resources Ltd commissioned a double absorption contact ,acid ,plant for the desulphurisation of furnace waste gas in August 1996. The history and the impact of the acid plant on S02 emissions and air quality is reviewed. General descriptions of the other aspects of the Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter's Environmental Project are also included in the paper. Information on 'the design features? and operating practices that relate to or contrast with practices at operations visited by KNS personnel prior to acid plant commissioning provide the paper's focus. Smelter operation has changed markedly from unstable operation prior to 1997 to continuous" operation with little down time due to mechanical or process failures resulting in increased smelter availability to more than 90%

Jan 1, 1998

By D. L. Jones

The leaching of natural chalcopyrite was studied in both ferric sulfate and ferric chloride solutions. The chemistry of the two reactions is quite different, with substantial sulfur oxidation occurring only in sulfate solutions. Ferric chloride is a more effective reagent, for the leaching rate is greatly increased with finer particles and higher (Fe+++), and unaffected by high (Fe++); none of these advantages are found with ferric sulfate. In addition, the morphology of leaching appears to be different, with ferric sulfate leaching preferentially along fissures or grain boundaries. The kinetics were found to be linear over an extended period, rather than parabolic as reported elsewhere. An explanation of the observed phenanena is proposed using the electrochemical theory of leaching, and experimental measurement of the mixed potential of the mineral during leaching.

Jan 1, 1976

By Mitsutaka Hino

The contents of gangue minerals, such as Al2O3. P2O5, crystalline water and so forth in the iron ore imported to Japan tend to increase year by year. Though the increments of such gangue contents arc approximately 0.1-0.2 mass%, some problems for the blast furnace operation in ironmaking process have already been reported, In order to clarify the mechanism of harmful effect caused by the small increment of gangue minerals, mainly Al2O3. on the blast furnace operation, the dripping behavior of Fe,O-CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-MgO slag from the iron funnel, which simulated the micro-porosity in sinter ore, has been observed with the wide range of basicity, Al2O3, Fe2O and MgO contents. The effect of MgO on the dripping behavior of slag has been summarized in this paper. It was found that the addition of 2mass% MgO resulted in large increase of hold-up on the most of the conditions. When Fe2O content was less than 20mass% and the basicity was lower than 0.8, MgO lowered the hold-up even if the slag contained 10mass% Ah03. Every slag hold-up showed the minimum at the basicity of less than unity on the conditions of constant Fe2O and Al2O3 contents, This trend became remarkable when the slag contained 2 mass% MgO.

Jan 1, 2003

By Ki Bui Ma

Momentum wheels with superconducting bearings can integrate both attitude control and energy storage functions, with attendant savings in the total volume and weight of hardware, and power consumption, all of which are in short supply on mini-satellites. We have built and tested a prototype with a wheel of mass 1.9 kg, diameter 3.25 in, and height 3 in, which can store 3.5 J-sec of angular momentum and 5 kJ of energy when it rotates at an angular speed of 15000 RPM. The energy density of 2.5 kJ/kg achieved is comparable with the lower range for lead-acid batteries. To show that the wheel is energy efficient, we have performed spin down tests and measured the input power required to sustain rotational speed. Results indicate that power consumption, even accounting for the needs of cooling system, is significantly smaller than that for state of the art commercial reaction wheels.

Jan 1, 2002

By J. K. Brimacombe

"Nearly all the easy things have been investigated in injection metallurgy. Water models have been used exhaustively to study mixing, gas distribution and flow in submerged jets. Mathematical models have been developed with their restrictive boundary conditions to quantify submerged gas jet behavior. While being valuable tools to our understanding of injection metallurgy, there is an obliqueness to their application. What we need now are measurements and modelling on the actual systems, hot and unfriendly, where gas meets liquid at temperatures above l000°C. This is where the challenge lies.AN APPRECIATONThere are those who follow the trail and there are those few who blaze new trails in search of novel concepts and processes. With his restless, inventive mind, Howard Womer is a trail blazer without doubt. Decades ago, he was a pioneer in the pursuit of continuous steelmaking with the WORCRA Process and, today, he is developing new processes for the treatment of waste. He is not only an inventor but has been a professor at the University of Melbourne and was the first Director of Research at BHP. He has influenced the lives of many people, including myself; with his achievements and humanity. Therefore it is most fitting that this symposium should be held in honour of Howard Womer, a luminary in the metallurgical world for over half a century.BACKGROUNDGas injection has been an integral part of pyrometallurgical processes since the early days of Bessemer, then of Pierce and Smith. Today, of course, one cannot imagine pyrometallurgical processes without submerged gas injection to effect reactions for metal extraction and refining, to provide mixing and to inject solids into molten metal, slag or matte. Spurred on by new developments like tonnage oxygen and argon production, the Savard-Lee concentric tuyere and porous plugs, new steelmaking processes have emerged; and now solids injection is changing copper extraction processes. The ingenuity of the extractive metallurgists who drove these developments is inspiring for they have applied gas injection to transform pyrometallurgical processes. Humankind has been the beneficiary.' Today these processes are safer, more efficient, cost effective, less energy intensive and more environmentally friendly."

Jan 1, 1996

By John R. Hugens

Modifications in the ALSCAN method of measuring hydrogen dissolved in liquid aluminum have made it possible to monitor the level of hydrogen dissolved in liquid copper. Measurements from the tundish show a correlation with eddy current readings from the continuously cast and rolled copper rod from the continuous casting and rolling system at Amarillo. The measurements also indicate that the copper in the tundish is supersaturated with hydrogen.

Jan 1, 1994

By Michael P. Heisel

Solinox is a physical scrubbing process capable of removing a number of noxious materials from off-gasses, especially SO2, hydrocarbons, halogens, heavy metals such as dust, etc. As these materials are dissolved physically, (not chemically bound), the solvent is absolutely stable and no by-products are formed in the scrubbing cycle. The process has? been installed in three plants up to now, treating from approximately 30 MMSCFD to approximately 100 MMSCFD. These installations are in a non ferrous metal smelting operation, in a cellulose factory, and in a roasting process.

Jan 1, 1992

By James E. McNulty

Today's energy era is the beginning of a transition from the Petroleum Age to a future age of renewable fuel resources. Fuels for the transition era will come from unconventional sources and conversion technology. Affecting the practicability of transition technologies are attitudes of the public, capital requirements and availability, patterns of fuels utilization, producibility of fuels and the actions of governments. Primary energy sources to replace deficiencies of oil and gas and provide growth in the period of transition will be coal, oil shale, nuclear energy and peat.

Jan 1, 1981

By Issa S. AI-Kharusy

Oxidation/reduction (REDOX) alloy media, as used in wastewater treatment, is founded on the exchange of electrons. Because of this electron exchange, many contaminants are converted to harmless components which require no further treatment. Other types of contaminants are removed from the waste stream by electrochemically bonding to the alloy medium. This paper discusses the REDOX reactions, the role of the alloy medium in various treatment processes, and describes specific applications of REDOX alloy media for the removal and minimization of waste. The characteristics and handling of spent treatment media is also reviewed as a further consideration in waste minimization.

Jan 1, 1996

By Darrin Wikoff

"The data, compiled by the Department of Energy (DOE), indicates that the average industrial plant could reduce its total energy cost by 14.8% by implementing effective Life Cycle Asset Management processes. The actual savings varies by industrial classification, but in all cases the potential is substantial and could have a marked impact on the operating profit of the company.Improvements geared towards improving equipment reliability have distinctive linkages to environmental performance, such as reducing the amount of product and raw material waste through routine monitoring of system parameters through predictive technologies, and preventing interruptions to production cycles with a focus on Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).Alcoa successfully reduced solvent disposal costs by more than 40% and GE reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 250,000 metric tons. This presentation will show you how companies have successfully reduced energy and disposal costs through a focused effort on manufacturing process reliability.IntroductionSmelter in the ParkThe quaint town of Portland, Victoria protrudes outward towards Antarctica from Australia’s southeastern coastline. Portland is a quiet rural community surrounded by agriculture that draws tourists by the thousands to the southernmost edge of Victoria by way of breathtaking cliff top views of the majestic Southern Ocean, the intrigue of shipwreck coves along the Great Ocean Road, and what most will call the eighth wonder of the modern world, the “Smelter in the Park”. Integrated within Portland’s beautiful landscape is a 356,000 ton/year aluminum smelter that stands as a symbol of collaboration between nature and industry. Nestled atop a ridge which faces “Sail Rock”, a popular destination of local and visiting fisherman, the smelter is engulfed in a mix of brush and wetland preserves that are home to many of Australia’s feathered and fourlegged natives. Also within its interior you’ll find parks and natural landscapes abundant where man and machines coexist with the native inhabitants."

Jan 1, 2009

By Michael P. Meisel

Solinox is a physical scrubbing process capable of removing a number of noxious materials from off-gasses, especially SO2, hydrocarbons, halo¬gens, heavy metals such as dust, etc. As these materials are dissolved physically, (not chemically bound), the solvent is absolutely stable and no by-products are formed in the scrubbing cycle. The process has been installed in three plants up to now, treating from approximately 30 MMSCFD to approximately 100 MMSCFD. These installations are in a non ferrous metal smelting operation, in a cellulose factory, and in a roasting process.

Jan 1, 1992

By Honglei Zhang, Yue Wang, Guotao Xu, Li Liu

The influence of rich oxygen atmosphere on the properties and structure of castables used in the hot wind pipe of blast furnaces was analyzed. Results show that the cold compressive strength of castables is affected by the change of rich oxygen volume in the wind pipe, the bulk density decreases and apparent porosity of castables increases with the addition of rich oxygen in wind pipe. With the addition of rich oxygen, the velocity of heat transfer increase and result of the steel shell become over hot out of safe limit at the thin lining in hot wind pipe.

Jan 1, 2015

By C. E. Hunt

Since the turn of the century, copper-nickel sulphide ores have been processed at the Sudbury, Ontario operations of INCO Limited, currently the largest integrated mining, milling, smelting and refining complex in the free world. Through the years operational, ecomomic, social and legislative changes have dictated the need for research and development directed at mitigating the impact of existing operations on the surrounding natural environment and also the reclamation of areas affected by earlier mining activities. Approximately one hundred years of mining history and the current annual processing of some 12 million tons of ore presents significant challenges with respect to waste disposal, liquid effluent treatment and land reclamation, particularly in light of rapidly evolving environmental regulations' and controls within the Province of Ontario.

Jan 1, 1992

By Alicia Esther Ares, Alex Iván Kociubczyk, Verónica Liliana Scheiber, Roberto Rozicki

In the present research the horizontal solidification of Sn-Zn eutectic alloys (Sn-8.9wt.%Zn) is performed, with two opposite senses of heat extraction. From the process of solidification, the thermal parameters (local solidification time, cooling rates and interphases velocities) and grain sizes from macrostructures obtained were determined. The presence of defects in the solidified samples was analyzed, observing that they occur largely in the collision zones of solidification fronts advancing in opposite directions in the samples.

Jan 1, 2016

By Pedro Morales

At present the Codelco´s smelter & refinery business have growing complexities, concentrates with lower copper grades, higher impurities contents, and environmental restrictions which have lead to refocus the Codelco business, not only by considering the isolated developments for each of the Codelco´s Smelt & Ref complexes, but also as an integrated corporative complex scheme which improve the economy of scale, optimize the synergies, and include new technologies for higher productivity and lower operational costs. Accordingly, for the 2008-2012 period, Codelco have prepared a Development Plan integrated to the smelters and refineries business units that improve its single potentialities of and include the advances for the Teniente Converter [1] and Continuous Converting [2] Technologies, and also include the concept of uncoupling the smelting process from the converting process allowing a higher operational flexibility, and a better control of its contaminants. Thus, processing the white metal generated in the Teniente Converter unit of the smelter A into the smelter B has comparative advantages. These changes in the business concept allow an overall increment of the smelting capacity by processing only white metal as a final product through a very marginal investment in this way the total or partial conversion of the white metal into blister copper is eliminated allowing to use the available gas capture-treating capacity, and available acid plants for increase smelting capacity as well.

Jan 1, 2006

By Robert W. Bartlett

"Economic and other factors, mostly outside of metallurgy, that strongly influence applied research, development and especially successful commercial adoption of new processes for producing primary metals and other commodity materials are reviewed. These factors, which can be both positive and negative in their influence, are often too lightly regarded in the research planning stage. They include continuing imperatives that have long influenced new process development as well as more recent trends. Both are discussed. Nearly all new materials eventually become commodities--products made to standard specifications with no producer control over price. Success requires being a low cost producer on a world wide basis. Composites and other complex material assemblages are unlikely to escape this fate as they mature.INTRODUCTIONThe adoption of new processes, beginning with research and development, for primary metals and other commodity materials is particularly difficult because each new process must supplant an existing process that is already being used commercially. There are many requirements besides technical innovation and cost superiority that must be met by the new process. Consequently, few innovations make it all the way from the research laboratory to commercial success.This paper discusses some of the factors that influence success in developing new processes for primary metals and commodity materials, based on the authors experience as a research metallurgist and industrial research manager. It begins with some of the factors that are always present and constrain successful process research and development, and proceeds to current trends that are expected to continue long enough to influence processes in the year 2000. Many of these trends are contradictory in their effect on new process development, and the future remains uncertain.The prevailing importance of these trends will vary with the material, process concept and other factors intrinsic to each case. Nevertheless, an awareness of these influences can help to avoid some of the R&D pitfalls and dead ends. Such awareness is deemed to be a necessary condition to avoid failure when commercial adoption of a new process is the goal."

Jan 1, 1988

By Rey B. Marquez

This paper introduces and outlines the implementation of Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) at Phelps Dodge Hidalgo Inc. By using a disciplined approach to the everyday maintenance functions, a proactive strategy is being developed which "raises the bar" for plant maintenance. The main objectives are: integration of Operations and Maintenance partnerships, transformation of maintenance practices from a reactive to proactive mode through the introduction of a progressive Predictive/Preventive Maintenance program (PDM/PM) paradigm changes, increased management support of maintenance functions, introduction of new indices and root cause analysis, updated; training, and definition of RCM components. RCM is the vehicle being utilized to reach the higher level of equipment availability and utilization. However, the ultimate goal is to venture beyond RCM and into the new frontier of Total Maintenance Management (TMM).

Jan 1, 1998