Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the suspension smelting of sulfidic, finely divided raw materials containing metals, such as copper, nickel and lead, by using oxygen enrichment. In this method into the suspension smelting furnace (1) there is fed the raw material (4,5) to be smelted together with flux (6) and oxidizing gas (7) and the walls (18) of the reaction space of the suspension smelting furnace are cooled and at least two molten phases created (16,17). According to the invention the degree of oxygen enrichment of the oxidizing gas is at least 40% in order to raise the temperature of the particles in suspension to at least 200.degree. C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for feeding reaction gas and solids into a suspension smelting furnace, which apparatus comprises at least conduits for receiving reaction gas and solids and for further conducting them into a suspension smelting furnace, and in which apparatus at least the major part of the reaction gas is fed into the suspension smelting furnace through a reaction gas channel surrounding the solids feeding channel. According to the invention, in the reaction gas channel, essentially near to its end on the side of the suspension smelting furnace, there are installed adjusting members whereby the flow rate of the reaction gas fed into the suspension smelting furnace can be adjusted essentially steplessly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for extracting metals from large solution flows in liquid--liquid solvent extraction and to an apparatus for realizing the same. By employing the method and apparatus of the invention, it is possible to choose which phase is maintained continuous at the dispersion stage, while the other phase remains as drops, to prevent the aeration of the organic phase and to pump the phases further at a low circumferential speed in order to prevent emulsification. Another object of the invention is to make the dispersion removed from the settler unit spread in the settler unit over the whole transversal area thereof. The method and apparatus of the invention are particularly well suited to large copper extraction plants.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for leaching nickel and copper from nickel-copper matte formed in pyrometallurgical nickel production by means of a multi-stage process. It is essential of the invention that the leaching of nickel takes place in at least two stages in conditions where free sulfuric acid is essentially absent, and that in these stages, the leaching of the nickel content of the matte is mainly carried out with copper as the oxidizer.

Abstract: A method for oxidizing treatment of molten matte and at the same time directly smelting sulphidic concentrate in a refractory-lined liquid bath reactor, e.g. a converter, into which oxidizing air is introduced below the surface of the liquid bath. For additional supply of energy in order to achieve thermal balance or increase of capacity, sulphidic concentrate is introduced into the gas phase of the liquid bath reactor together with oxygen gas or oxygen-enriched gas by means of a concentrate burner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the suspension smelting of suifidic, finely divided raw materials containing metals, such as copper, nickel and lead, by using oxygen enrichment. In this method into the suspension smelting furnace (1) there is fed the raw material (4,5) to be smelted together with flux (6) and oxidizing gas (7) and the walls (18) of the reaction space of the suspension smelting furnace are cooled and at least two molten phases created (16,17). According to the invention the degree of oxygen enrichment of the oxidizing gas is at least 40% in order to raise the temperature of the particles in suspension to at least 200.degree. C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for forming controlled vortexes and for circulating gas thereby in a reactor (1, 15) containing liquid or a suspension of liquid and solids. Into the reactor there is also fed gas, so that the liquid is set into a turbulent motion by means of mixers (4, 17, 18) and flow baffles (6, 17, 19). By means of adjustable flow baffles (6, 19), there are created in the reactor at least two vortexes (10), external to the mixer shaft, for sucking gas from the suspension surface into the liquid phase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a boiler construction successive to a smelting furnace, particularly a flash smelting furnace, whereby a direct flow from the radiation section of a waste heat boiler to the convection section thereof is prevented by means of an intermediate plate located in the boiler, advantageously made of cooler pipes and arranged in a direction essentially parallel to the flow. At the same time, the return of the gas flow to the outlet opening of the smelting furnace is prevented in order to reduce the tendency to dust accretions caused by the gases. By means of a flow pattern thus optimized, the eddy currents or dead areas in the radiation section are remarkably reduced, which lengthens the delay time advantageous mainly for heat transfer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing high-grade nickel matte and slag in a combination of a suspension smelting furnace and some other furnace without charge-type converting, so that at least part of the concentrate and/or ore fed into the process is first refined pyrometallurgically into nickel matte, which then is fed into the suspension smelting furnace, where the high-grade nickel matte proper is produced.

Abstract: A method for oxidizing the pulverous fuel of a furnace, advantageously a flash smelting furnace, by means of a burner, so that the oxidation takes place mainly owing to an effective mixing of two different combustion gases, pulverous fuel and possibly an extra fuel, in the furnace space. The combustion gases are conducted into the furnace space in separate jet flows, so that oxygen is fed in through the center in an at least partly turbulent flow, and the air is fed around it in several separate flows. A burner for mixing pulverous fuel and combustion gas and for burning them in the furnace space is described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for feeding reaction gases, advantageously oxygen and air or a mixture thereof, into a smelting furnace so that the cross-sectional area wherethrough the reaction gases are fed can be adjusted. Thus the velocity of the gases when they are discharged into the smelting furnace can be maintained sufficiently high while the quantity and quality of the gas varies.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for oxidizing the pulverous fuel of a furnace, advantageously a flash smelting furnace, by means of a burner, so that the oxidation takes place mainly owing to an effective mixing of two different combustion gases, pulverous fuel and possibly an extra fuel in the furnace space. The combustion gases are conducted into the furnace space in separate flows, so that oxygen is fed in through the center in an at least partly turbulent flow, and the air is fed around it in several separate flows. The invention also relates to a burner for mixing pulverous fuel and combustion gas and for burning them in the said furnace space.