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By Shadia Ikhmayies

In this work Thermo-Calc software was used to calculate the phase diagram of the Fe–Si system. The deduced phase diagram includes twenty fields, where three fields represent pure phases; two solid solutions and a liquid phase. There are several fields of two co-existing phases; mixed solid phases, and mixed solid with liquid phases. A set of eutectic and eutectoid points were found, where transformation reactions and temperatures were identified. The results were compared with results in the literature and good agreements with some differences were found. This study is a step to understand the phase diagram of Ca–Fe-Si system for refining metallugical grade silicon (MG-Si).

Mar 1, 2018

By V. Jiricny

There is a growing need to process galvanized steel scrap from automobiles, etc., in order to remove the zinc coating that otherwise causes problems in remelting of the scrap in electric arc furnaces. One approach that has moved to the pilot plant stage is that of Metal Recovery Technologies, Inc., of East Chicago (MRI). That company leaches the zinc fiom the scrap with a sodium hydroxide solution. The leached and washed scrap can then be returned to the steel industry. What is left is a sodium hydroxidelzincate solution which must be processed to recover the zinc and the NaOH. Presently, this is done by MRI using electrodeposition on planar electrodes at moderate current density and the resulting zinc is in the form of fine powder which is hard to process into, say, zinc for galvanizing. MRI has supported an investigation of a novel electrode, the spouted bed electrode (SBE), for zinc electrodeposition. In laboratory cells, zinc particles with low porosity have been grown up to 3mm in size. Microanalysis of the deposited zinc showed low level of impurities. DC energy consumption values were usually in the range of 2-2.5 kWg which is well below the energy consumption of the existing cells (and of present-day cells for electrowinning from acid sulfate electrolytes). These results were achieved at current densities (few thousand A/m2) that are much higher than possible with conventional electrodes. Discussion is provided of the scale-up of the cell to a commercial scale.

Jan 1, 1998

By Neng-Wen Yu, Shau-Jun Zhu, Ji-He Wei

The desulfurization process by powder injection and blowing in the RH refining of molten steel and its mechanism have been considered and analyzed. Based on the two-resistance mass transfer theory and the mass balance of sulfur in the system, a kinetic model for the process has been developed. The related parameters of the model, including the mass transfer coefficients and the effective amount of powder in the molten steel being treated for desulfurization, have been more reasonably determined. Modeling and predictions of the process of injecting and blowing the lime-based powder flux under assumed operating modes with the different initial contents of sulfur and amounts of powder injected and blown in a RH degasser of 300 t capacity have been carried out using the model. The relevant circulation rate of the liquid steel and the powder injection and blowing rate were taken to be 100 t/min and 150 kg/min, respectively. The initial contents of sulfur in the liquid steel to be treated and the amounts of powder injection and blowing were respectively assumed to be 0.007, 0.006, 0.005, 0.004, 0.003, 0.002 mass-% and 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3 kg/t-steel. The total treatment time for desulfurization under each mode was set up at 24 min, equivalent to eight circulation cycles of the liquid steel to be treated. The results indicated that the predictions made with this model are in good agreement with some data of the industrial experiments and practice. Injecting and blowing the lime-based powder flux with the composition of 85 mass-% lime (CaO) + 15 mass-% fluorspar (CaF2) of 3-5 kg/t-steel, it is possible to decrease the sulfur content in the molten steel to ultralow level below (5-10)x10·4 mass-% from (60-80)x 10·4 mass-%. The total treatment time needed will appropriately be 12-20 min. Intensifying the powder injection and blowing operation and increasing the circulation rate of the liquid steel may effectively' raise the rate of the process in RH refining. The model may be expected to offer some useful information and a reliable basis for determining the reasonable process parameters and help in optimizing the technology of desulfurization by powder injection and blowing in the RH refining of molten steel.

Jan 1, 2000

By cheng Peng-fei, TANG Hai-yan, guo Xiao-chen, LI Jing-she, Liang Yong-cang, Zhao Baojun

In the process of oxygen blast furnace, the lower coke ratio and the higher coke load make the skeleton coke more important. To understand the dissolution of coke in melting and dropping zone, the influence of FeO content, temperature and reaction time on the dissolution of coke with slag were studied by single-factor experiment. Meanwhile, the three factors and three levels orthogonal were conducted. The dissolution degrees were characterized by the weight loss ratio and diameter variation. The results showed that the weight loss ratio increased and the diameter decreased with the increase of FeO content, temperature and time. The three factors and three levels orthogonal test showed that time was the most significant factor on coke dissolution, FeO content of the second, and finally the temperature. The microstructure of coke after reaction indicated that the dissolution occurred on coke surface.

Jan 1, 2016

By William Bourcier

Geothermal Brines are a significant potential source of valuable minerals and metals. These brines are water that is heated by the natural heat flow from the depths of the earth. Hotter brines, typically with temperatures greater than 120°C, are used to generate electricity. Lower temperature brines are directly used to supply thermal energy to applications such as agriculture, aquaculture and process/domestic heat. The geothermal waters have had intimate and lengthy contact with the layers of the earth?s crust that they flow through, resulting in dissolution of minerals and metals from the rocks, and solution into the hot water. These aqueous solutions can be processed to recover minerals and metals. Some potential products include silica, zinc and lithium, along with other materials. Recovery of minerals and metals from geothermal brines can be viewed as ?solution mining by nature?, followed by application of known or new hydrometallurgical techniques for isolation and purification. This paper discusses the opportunities, the processes, the challenges, the current status, the economics and the potential for recovery of minerals and metals from geothermal brines.

Jan 1, 2006

By A. S. Block-Bolten

Two innovations in nickel-arsenic separation have been studied on a laboratory scale. The first requires only a nitric acid atmospheric leach without preliminary roasting and leads to favorable final conditions for precipitation of arsenic as highly stable FeAsO4, The second is an NaOH-H2O2 pressure leach which is an alternative to the known NaOH-O2 pressure leach. Either method offers the possibility of rapid and efficient separation of nickel from arsenic and is applicable, for example to the high grade niccolite deposits in the Great Slave Lake area of northern Canada.

Jan 1, 1982

By Mahin Rameshni

WorleyParsons innovative SO2 reduction process efficiently recovers sulfur from SO2 streams. Effluent gases from ore roasters and smelters and coal-fired power plants can be treated to reduce sulfur emissions. This exciting new process is an innovative combination of well-established processes of reaction of CH4 and sulfur vapor to produce CS2, followed by catalytic hydrolysis of CS2 to H2S, and Claus reaction of H2S and SO2 to sulfur. Key advantages are lower fuel consumption, reduced emissions, better product sulfur quality and better operational stability. The Production of elemental sulfur from SO2 is being called Rameshni SO2 Reduction (RSR) and it is patent pending.

Jan 1, 2006

By Xiang (Frank) Chen, Mikhail A. Sokolov, Randy K. Nanstad

"Nickel-base Alloy 617 is being considered as a structural material for application in the secondary heat exchanger of the New Generation Nuclear Plant, a very high temperature gascooled reactor. Thermal aging of Alloy 617 plate and welds is being performed with tensile, Charpy impact, and fracture toughness tests conducted at temperatures to 950°C. Results of testing for thermal aging to 5,300 h have been obtained and are presented; varying effects of thermal aging temperature and time on fracture toughness are observed. The 9Cr-1MoV (Grade 91) ferritic steel is a candidate for structural applications in the sodium fast reactor. Fracture toughness testing of unaged Grade 91 steel has been performed to evaluate specimen size effects in preparation for future testing of the material in the thermally aged condition. Results for material in the mill-annealed and heat treated conditions are presented and show that this heat of Grade 91 steel does not indicate a small specimen bias on the fracture toughness Master Curve reference temperature.IntroductionThe behavior of advanced engineering materials will be a critical factor in the performance of Generation IV reactors. In the case of materials utilized for reactor internals and pressure vessels, the effects of irradiation and long time thermal aging are major issues. The environmental conditions for some of the Gen IV reactors are generally beyond present day reactor technology, requiring new experimental data as well as analytical predictions of expected behavior of candidate materials at conditions for which there are only sparse or no experimental data. The radiation environments and several key materials issues for some Gen IV systems are summarized in Section 5 of [l] as a starting point for modeling and microstructural analysis of Generation IV materials. More detailed descriptions of materials research and development needs and recommended activities for the SCWR, VHTR, and GFR are provided in references [2, 3, 4], respectively. Mansur, et. al. provide an interesting comparison of materials needs for Generation IV reactors to corresponding needs for fusion reactors and spallation neutron sources in [5]. The two primary candidate reactor systems currently undergoing significant research and development by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are the New Generation Nuclear Plant"

Jan 1, 2012

By Daniel Kittelty

A fully instrumented laboratory electrowinning cell has been used to produce nickel cathodes from synthetic solutions containing various impurities in order to evaluate the effects of both metallic ions and organic reagents (from prior solvent extraction and other processes) on the quality of the electrodeposited nickel. The conditions used were typical of those employed in industrial electrowinning operations. The impurities were found to alter the crystal size and shape, induce the development of hydrogen pits on the deposit surface, incorporate as metal hydroxide crystals in the deposit, and alter the internal stress and current efficiency. These effects have been interpreted in terms of previously established relationships between the solution composition and the physical properties of the cathodes. The incorporation of the common metal impurity ions into the deposit have been interpreted in terms of a mass transport controlled reduction or precipitation reactions. In particular, a low concentration of aluminium ions resulted in an initial highly deleterious effect, which was replaced by a positive influence at higher concentrations. A model which involves the buffering effect of the aluminium on the pH at the cathode surface has been proposed.

Jan 1, 2003

By Dachun Liu, Lei Shi, Yongnian Dai, Bin Yang, Yang Tian, Tao Qu

The carbonthermal reduction of high Mg–Si nickel laterite was studied under vacuum. The effects of adding calcium oxide and the reducing agent on the reduction of silicon in residue were studied at pressures of 10–200 Pa and different temperatures, with varying proportions of carbon and CaO. The analysis of the residue was performed using X-ray diffraction and chemical composition analysis. The results show the following: At 1350 °C with a C/O ratio of 1.5:1, the recovery of Si reached a maximum 71.09%. Under these conditions, Si exists mainly in the forms of Fe3Si, Fe2Si, FeSi and SiC. The recovery of Si was above 80% when the temperature was 1450 °C, the C/O ratio 1:1, and 15% addition of CaO. When CaO addition was 22.61%, all of the solid phase was Ca2SiO4.

Mar 1, 2017

By Dieter Neuschiitz, Pengfu Tan

"In order to understand the sintering phenomena during iron ore sintering process, a CFD model of iron ore sintering has been developed, combining with the kinetics of 15 relevant chemical reactions with the aim of describing the temperature fields and the gas flow patterns in the sintering bed. This CFD model can be used to simulate the concentrations of the gaseous and solid species, temperatures of the gas and solid, melting and molten fractions of the mixture, gas velocities, temperature zones and residence times of the gas in each temperature zone. IntroductionThe off-gas analyses clearly revealed that the off-gas of a sinter strand does not have a composition corresponding to thermodynamic equilibrium, for example, the CO, CO2 and O2 concentrations are not the mutually consistent equilibrium values. Apparently the chemical reactions in the sinter bed are controlled kinetically. Therefore kinetic modeling of sintering reactions combined with CFD modeling is necessary to understand the sintering phenomena during iron ore sintering process.Several models of iron ore sintering have been developed since 1970 [l-l 4l, each being more refined than its predecessor. The models were formulated as a series of differential equations to describe chemical and physical changes occurring at a point in the bed. These equations were solved numerically in a vertical plane along the strand. The present CFD model, based on the Nath's model [14], has been published in the reference [15]. In this work, some new chemical kinetic models of gas-solid reactions are incorporated in the present CFD model. The concentrations of gaseous and solid species, temperatures of gas and solid, melting and molten fractions of solid, velocity of gas, and residence time of gas in each combustion zone can be calculated by this model."

Jan 1, 2004

By Nolberto Moreno Borjas

This paper outlines the detrimental impact that unblended ore can have on the Ni and Co recoveries and the ore slurry density with real data from the Caron low-pressure ammonia leaching process for the Punta Gorda ore. The author briefly discusses the reason for the decrease in slurry density that the process experiences. The lower metal recoveries in the process that are caused by the unblended ore chemical characteristics and variations are shown with a data base statistical analysis drawn from the results obtained from a pilot test, designed with different ore bypassed from the normal process flow and a similar ore from a similar metallurgical treatment. Keywords: Ni-Co Laterite, Caron Process, Ore Blending, Slurry Density, Metal Recovery

Jan 1, 2004

By Tianzu Yang, Weifeng Liu, Lin Chen, Qingkai Xiao, DUCHAO ZHANG

To solve the problem of low leaching ratio of direct gold cyanide leaching from arsenical refractory gold concentrate, this paper proposed a matte smelting process for gold enrichment in low grade copper matte. The effects of copper content in the mixed material, ratio change in slag type, smelting temperature and reaction time on recovery rate of gold and copper were investigated. The experimental results indicated that the recovery rate of gold increased with the increase of copper content in the mixed materials, temperature and reaction time. It was also noted that the recovery rate of gold and copper were respectively 98.16% and 96.39% when the addition of copper content in the mixed material was 3%, slag type of CaO/SiO2 and FeO/SiO2 were 0.6 and 0.9 in 1250°C and the time of reaction was 40min. Most of the arsenic was oxidized into As2O3 existed in the dust. The results showed that the matte smelting method can achieve efficient recovery of gold from arsenical refractory gold concentrate.

Jan 1, 2016

By Bin Xu, Qian Li, Yong-bin Yang, Tao Jiang, Jian-jun Hu

It could significantly increase the leaching rate of refractory gold concentrate containing sulfur and arsenic by roasting pretreatment with adding certain amount of sodium sulfate, and the mechanism of that was systematically researched with DSC, XRD and SEM in this paper. Results indicated that the mechanism of Na2SO4 on double refractory gold concentrate at roasting pretreatment can be summed up in the following three aspects：Firstly, Na2SO4 can react with SO2 and SO3 which is produced by the oxidation of sulfides and generate Na2S2O7(l), which plays buffer effect on sulfides exothermic oxidation, avoiding the secondary-encapsulated of gold. Secondly, the liquid phase of Na2S2O7 can cover mineral particles' surface that possesses a sintering effect, it leads to internal cracks of the particles. Finally, mineral particles will gather with sodium sulfate particles as the center that can improve the permeability of the layer.

Jan 1, 2015

By C. Beckermann

"A diffuse interface model is derived for the direct simulation of two-phase flows with surface tension, density differences between the phases, and phase change. The derivation starts from the balance equations for a sharp interface and uses a formal averaging procedure on an atomic scale to obtain diffuse interface versions of the equations. Two approaches are considered: (i) the two phases have different velocities inside the interface and separate conservation equations are solved for each phase, and (ii) the two phases have the same velocity inside the diffuse interfuce and mixture conservation equations are solved. Based on a superposition of microscopic (atomic-scale) and macroscopic interface morphologies, an expression for the interfacial momentum source term is introduced that models surface tension effects and accounts for immiscibility between the phases.IntroductionDiffuse interface methods have been a popular tool in the direct simulation of two-phase flows [I]. In diffuse interface approaches, the interface between the two phases is characterized by a rapid but smooth transition in the properties, such as density and viscosity. Usually, a phase function ? is introduced to represent this transition, and the evolution of ? in the domain is computed from a separate equation or recipe. A unique set of conservation equations (e.g., mass and momentum) is solved on the entire domain, irrespective of the phase present, by accounting for the transition in the properties and introducing terms that account for interfacial sources. The continuum surface force (CSF) model of Brackbill et al. [2], which accounts for surface tension, is an example of the latter. The volume-of-fluid (VOF), level set, and phase-field methods are all examples of diffuse interface approaches. The major advantage of diffuse interface methods is that explicit tracking of the interface and the application of traditional sharp interface conditions are avoided. A disadvantage can arise from the artificial smearing of what is in reality an interface of atomic-scale width; however, techniques have been developed to overcome this problem."

Jan 1, 2004

By N. Ono, H. Fujiwara, S. Otsuka-Yao-Matsuo, T. Omata

"The electrical conductivity and the oxygen release and uptake of sintered indium tin oxide (ITO) upon heating and cooling under the condition that P(O2)/P*=4.9X10-4 (P* = atmospheric pressure), :when P(O2) was approximately 50Pa, were simultaneously measured by using a closed-system oxygen-gas analyzer. A large increasing in -the electrical conductivity - upon the· oxygen release detected in 1130<T<1273K was observed. Quantitative relationship between the number of oxygen atom released from ITO and the conduction electron density in ITO was studied. The release of one oxygen atom agreed with the generation of two conduction electrons, i.e., the efficiency-carrier-generation for the oxygen release from the ITO was almost one. The oxygen atom released must be originally at the quasi-anion site in the C-type rare-earth lattice, i.e., the 16c site in the space group of Ia3, as an interstitial excess oxygen, Oi"". It was concluded that the mechanism of conduction carrier generation and compensation upon SnO2 doping into In2O3 can be expressed by the defect equation, 2SnO2-2Sn1n +2(1-z)e'+zOi""+3O0 x+(l-z)/2O2, and that the oxygen release bringing the increase in the electrical · conductivity can be expressed by the equation, Oi""-1/2O2+2e'.IntroductionThin films of SnO2-doped In2O 3 (generally designated as ITO, for indium tin oxide), which have high optical transparency for visible light and high electrical conductivity, have been used as transparent electrodes for liquid crystal and electrochromic displays. It is well known that the electrical conductivity of ITO depends on the content of SnOi-dopant and oxygen. However, a reliable relationship between electrical conductivity and the absolute oxygen content in ITO has yet to be reported. The elucidation of such a relationship is one of the important clues for realizing extremely highly conductive ITO electrodes."

Jan 1, 2000

By N. Menad

. Electronic wastes are heterogeneous mixture, with mainly copper, aluminium and steel attached to or mixed with various types of plastics and ceramics. In general, small amounts of precious metals are incorporated in this mixture. Today, these components constitute an environmentally problematic fraction in disposal. Their physico-chemical characteristics have been investigated through chemical, x-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and thermal analysis.

Jan 1, 2000

By A. D. Neuman, C. C. Davis, M. R. Lopez, A. C. Martinez, T. A. Nothwang, F. G. Hampel, S. L. Voit

"One of the thrust areas for the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) program is the development of actinide bearing fuels for transmutation in a fast reactor. Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel has an extensive fast reactor irradiation history and thus is being considered for use as a baseline composition from which minor actinides can be incorporated for use as a transmutation fuel. The current study involves characterization of precursor powders and pellets destined for the Advanced Test Reactor in Idaho. These pellets will have three compositions: one standard MOX composition, (U0.80Pu0.20)O1.98, and two compositions of minor actinide mixed oxide (MAMOX) with oxygen to metal ratios (O/M) of (U0.75Pu0.20Am0.03Np0.02)O1.98 and (U0.75Pu0.20Am0.03Np0.02)O1.95. The precursor powders were characterized using a field emission gun scanning electron microscope (FEG-SEM) to determine particle morphology, size, and size distribution. An electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) was used to characterize element distributions in the pellets.IntroductionThe fundamental purpose of GNEP is to enable a fuel recycling partnership between member nations. The customer nations utilize the fuel for electricity generation provided by and subsequently recycled by the supplier nation. The supplier nation recycles the actinide constituents, mainly uranium and plutonium, in advanced nuclear power reactors, and thus reducing waste volumes [1, 2]. Nuclear materials are strictly controlled through the International Atomic Energy Agency. One of the thrust areas supported by the GNEP program is the development of actinide bearing fuels for transmutation in a fast reactor under the U.S. Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI) in order to transmute long-lived transuranic actinide isotopes into shorter-lived fission products [3].MOX fuel has an extensive fast reactor irradiation history and thus is being considered for use as a baseline composition into which minor actinides can be incorporated for use as a transmutation fuel [4]. Irradiation performance data on oxide fuels with high concentrations of minor actinides is limited, which has prompted this study. This paper discusses the characterization results of precursor powders and pellets prepared for the Advanced Test Reactor in Idaho to determine the effects of including minor actinides in the fuel, and addresses two fuel test matrices proposed by Hilton et al. [3]. The pellets will have three compositions: one standard MOX composition, (U0.80Pu0.20)O1.98, and two compositions of MA-MOX with O/M of (U0.75Pu0.20Am0.03Np0.02)O1.98 and (U0.75Pu0.20Am0.03Np0.02)O1.95. The precursor powders, uranium oxide (depleted, DUO2 and highly enriched, HEUO2), neptunium oxide, NpO2, americium oxide, AmO2, and plutonium oxide, PuO2, were characterized using a FEG-SEM for particle morphology, size, and size distribution. The morphology of the actinide powders was studied in the areas of flowability and porosity in order to predict manufacturability. The MOX pellets were characterized using an EPMA in order to determine impurity levels and locations."

Jan 1, 2008

By W. F. Ranson, R. C. Progelhof

"I. THE PROBLEM: MANUFACTURING PRODUCTIVITYThe 1985 President's Commission [I] on Industrial Competitiveness found compelling evidence of the declining economic position of the United States in world markets. The annual rate of increase in the United States productivity is approximately one-seventh that of our major trading partners over the last decade: profit levels in manufacturing investments are below those of the mid-1960's; an increasingly negative trade balance since 1971; and a sharp decline in the United States share of world trade in manufactured goods for more than two decades. A particularly dramatic example of the shifting economic balance is the fact that Japanese productivity growth has been five times greater than that of this country since 1960. In face, Japan's productivity now exceeds that of the United States in such critical industries as steel, transportation equipment, electronics and electrical machinery.American employees have experienced the competitive consequences of this nation's lagging industrial performance. Between 1980 and 1984 alone, the population of non-farm employees engaged in manufacturing dropped from 22.4% to 20.6%. This reduction in manufacturing must be arrested.Commissions RecommendationsThe comprehensive set of recommendations offered by the President's Commission recognized the nation's ""key competitive advantages"", technology and human resources, and calls for their strengthening. Particular emphasis is placed on manufacturing technology and the fact that this country does not translate research into new technologies rapidly and fully.""Perhaps the most glaring deficiency in America's technological capabilities has been our failure to devote enough attention to manufacturing or 'process' technology. It does us little good to design state-of-the-art products if within a short time our foreign competitors can manufacture them more cheaply. The United States has failed to apply its own technologies to manufacturing. Robotics automation and statistical quality control were all first developed in the United States but in recent years they have been more effectively applied elsewhere""."

Jan 1, 1988

By Wenxian Zhu, Patrick R. Taylor

"The small dimensions of nano-sized materials leads to novel and enhanced mechanical and physical properties. A thermal plasma reactor has been developed to study the formation of nanometer sized metal powders. A supersonic nozzle and a powder filter were designed and built. By vaporizing coarse metal powders in the plasma flame, and quenching the metal vapors through the nozzle at the rate of 107 K/sec, nanometric sized powders have been produced. The powders were collected in an airtight secondary quench-filter system. The particle size of the product power is 5 -20 nanometers, obtained through TEM analysis. The XRD analysis showed that the powder did not oxidize after the filter was handled in an inert atmosphere glove box.IntroductionNanostructured materials have been shown to exhibit improved physical and mechanical properties compared to conventional materials with larger grain sizes (1,2). There have been several methods proposed for preparing nanometer size materials. Thermally induced vapor-phase reactions have been used to produce a variety of powders. A common feature of these processes is the rapid production and cooling of condensable reaction intermediates and products, by gas-phase reactions, leading to the formation of a large number of very small particles. Thermal plasma synthesis of ultra-fine size particles has been attracting increasing interest (3,4,9-11), because it offers many advantages, especially in refractory materials processing, compared to conventional processes: (a) thermal plasma temperatures are very high(> 5000 K); (b) the rates of chemical reaction are much faster than those encountered in conventional processes; (c) high-purity materials may be obtained using fewer processing steps by collecting the product at temperatures where the by-products are in the vapor phase; ( d) the mean particle diameter can be controlled; (e) unifom sized particles may be produced with clean surfaces (these particles are particularly suitable for pressureless sintering); and, (f) high throughput per reactor volume can be achieved. In addition, the process used for generating particles determines the degree of sintering ability of the powders, since the process dictates the morphologies, the purity and its size distribution. In the future, thermal plasma synthesis nanometer size particles may play an important role in vapor phase reaction techniques and might be expected to be one of the first full scale commercial installations in the future."

Jan 1, 1998