Patents Assigned to OUTOTEC (FILTERS) OY
  • Patent number: 10006718
    Abstract: An arrangement for feeding fine-grained matter to a concentrate or matte burner (1) of a suspension smelting furnace (2). The arrangement comprising a fluidization arrangement (3) for feeding fluidized fine-grained matter into a dosing bin (4), and a conveyor means (6) for feeding fluidized fine-grained matter from the dosing bin (4) to the concentrate or matte burner (1) of the suspension smelting furnace (2), and a loss-in-weight controller (5) between the dosing bin (4) and the conveyor means (6). The arrangement comprises an impact cone (8) arranged below a filling valve (7) between the fluidization arrangement (3) and the dosing bin (4) for distributing fluidized fine-grained matter flowing from the fluidization arrangement (3) within the dosing bin (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Outotec (Finland) Oy
    Inventors: Markku Lahtinen, Tapio Ahokainen, Peter Björklund
  • Publication number: 20180156541
    Abstract: Provided is a burner such as a concentrate burner or a matte burner for feeding reaction gas and fine solids into a reaction shaft of a suspension smelting furnace. The burner comprises an annular fine solids discharge channel that is radially limited at the outside by a first annular wall and that is radially limited at the inside by a second annular wall. The annular fine solids discharge channel is configured to receive fine solids from a fine solids feeding arrangement and to create an annular flow of fine solids in the annular fine solids discharge channel. The annular fine solids discharge channel being provided with spreading means configured to be hit by the annular flow of fine solids and configured to even out particle distribution in the annular flow of fine solids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Elli MIETTINEN, Sarianna SUOMINEN, Lauri P. PESONEN, Aki LAANINEN, Tapio AHOKAINEN, Kaj EKLUND, Markku LAHTINEN, Peter BJÖRKLUND
  • Publication number: 20180142323
    Abstract: Provided herein is a process of fire refining blister copper, comprising the steps of (a) providing molten blister copper into an anode furnace; (b) when sulfur concentration of the molten blister copper provided in step (a) is above a first prescribed target value, oxidizing sulfur in the molten blister copper by blowing oxygen containing gas into the molten blister copper until the first prescribed target value has been reached; (c) subsequently lowering the sulfur and oxygen content in blister copper by blowing inert gas into the molten blister copper until a second prescribed target value has been reached, wherein the inert phase (c) is continued until the second prescribed target value of the oxygen concentration is below 4000 ppm, and the second prescribed target value of the sulfur concentration is below 500 ppm; (d) when certain condition(s) occur, subsequently reducing oxygen in the blister copper; and (e) optionally casting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Akusti JAATINEN, Harri TALVENSAARI
  • Publication number: 20180141055
    Abstract: A drive module which is a self-supporting structure being transferable and hoistable as an integral entity. The drive module includes a self-supporting framework having a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. The self-supporting framework defines an inner space within the self-supporting framework. The drive module also includes at least two drive units. The drive units are supported to the self-supporting framework in the inner space of the self-supporting framework. The drive units are connectable to an external rotatable shaft for the rotation of the rotatable shaft located outside the drive module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Pekka TAHKIO, Valtteri VAARNA, Matti LUUKKONEN
  • Patent number: 9976222
    Abstract: The invention concerns a bubble collector guide for use in an electrolysis process, which comprises a plurality of guide members arranged at a distance from each other, the guide members comprising a lower side. The guide members can be arranged horizontally on the vertical surface of an electrode so that the lower side of the guide member forms a downwards facing surface that is substantially orthogonal to the vertical surface of the electrode, so as to collect bubbles of gas generated at the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Outotec (Finland) Oy
    Inventors: Ville Nieminen, Henri K. Virtanen, Heikki Aaltonen
  • Patent number: 9968871
    Abstract: The invention relates to a filter device for filtering a suspension, and the method of operation thereof, wherein between a stationary head piece and a movable end piece, the filter device has a pack of a recess plate and an adjacent recess plate, the filter device has a suspension pipe for piping for piping a first stream of the suspension from the head piece into the pack, wherein connecting to the end piece, and a supply pipe for piping a second stream of the suspension into the suspension pipe, forming a filter chamber, the recess plate and/or the adjacent recess plate has a recess, from the suspension pipe, the recess plate has a suspension duct for piping the suspension into the filter chamber, and wherein between the recess plate and the adjacent recess plate, the filter device has at least one filter cloth for filtering a solid content out of the suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventor: Bernd Böhnke
  • Patent number: 9968000
    Abstract: Provided is an arrangement for cooling channels in an electrode column assembly of an electric arc furnace, wherein the lower part of the electrode column assembly is provided with a contact shoe ring formed of a plurality of contact shoe elements, a pressure ring formed of a plurality of pressure blocks, and a heat shield located above the pressure ring and formed of a plurality of heat shield segments. The contact shoe elements and/or the pressure blocks are provided with channels for a cooling liquid to flow therein. The channels made in the material of the contact shoe elements and/or the pressure blocks extend obliquely downwards from the upper ends of said contact shoe elements and/or the pressure blocks near to the lower ends of the same. At least two of said oblique channels join together at their lower ends to form a continuous channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Janne Ollila, Tom Rönnberg, Seppo Juvonen
  • Patent number: 9957586
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of using a suspension smelting furnace and to a suspension smelting furnace and to a concentrate burner (4). The concentrate burner (4) comprises a first gas supply device (12) for feeding a first gas (5) into the reaction shaft (2) and a second gas supply device (18) for feeding a second gas (16) into the reaction shaft (2). The first gas supply device (12) comprises a first annular discharge opening (14), which which is arranged concentrically with the mouth (8) of a feeder pipe (7), so that the first annular discharge opening (14) surrounds the feeder pipe (7). The second gas supply device (18) comprises a second annular discharge opening (17), which is arranged concentrically with the mouth (8) of the feeder pipe (7), so that the second annular discharge opening (17) surrounds the feeder pipe (7) opening (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Jussi Sipilä, Markku Lahtinen, Peter Björklund, Kaarle Peltoniemi, Tapio Ahokainen, Lauri P. Pesonen, Kaj Eklund
  • Publication number: 20180100216
    Abstract: Provided is a method for melting copper scrap and/or refining blister copper, comprising the steps of: (a) charging of copper scrap into an empty anode furnace and melting the copper scrap; (b) charging molten blister copper into the anode furnace; (c) optionally charging more copper scrap into the anode furnace and melting the copper scrap; (d) optionally repeating steps (b) and/or (c) one or more times until the anode furnace is full and a desired amount of copper scrap has been charged and melted until a final copper batch is obtained; and (e) refining the final copper batch to obtain anode copper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Harri TALVENSAARI, Akusti JAATINEN
  • Patent number: 9932683
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for electrowinning a metal from an electrolyte in an electrowinning cell that comprises an electrolysis tank, one or more anodes, and one or more cathodes, which anodes and cathodes are housed in the electrolysis tank. The method comprises supplying sulfur dioxide to the anode to depolarize the anode process and to reduce the energy consumption of the electrowinning cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Michael H. Barker, Henri K. Virtanen
  • Patent number: 9926617
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing matte such as copper or nickel matte or crude metal such as blister copper in a suspension smelting furnace such as a flash smelting furnace or a flash converting furnace. Also provided is a suspension smelting furnace such as a flash smelting furnace or a flash converting furnace. The suspension smelting furnace comprises a reaction shaft, a settler in communication with a lower end of the reaction shaft, and an uptake shaft. The settler extending in two opposite directions from a landing zone for a jet of oxidized suspension below the reaction shaft in the settler so that the settler comprises a first settler part on a first side of the landing zone and a second settler part on an opposite second side of the landing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventor: Markku Lahtinen
  • Patent number: 9920396
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for pressure and temperature let down of autoclave discharge slurry, in particular in pressure oxidation or high pressure acid leach of metal containing ore. The method of the invention comprises a step of providing autoclave vent gas obtained from the autoclave to the top-entry flash vessel for inducing overpressure to the top-entry flash vessel and preventing boiling of the slurry during the transfer to next top-entry flash vessel. The invention further relates to an autoclave and pressure let-down arrangement adapted for providing autoclave vent gas to one or more top-entry flash vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Outotec (Finland) Oy
    Inventor: John O'Callaghan
  • Publication number: 20180073099
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for regenerating the extractive potential of an organic hydroxyoxime-based extraction solution used in the recovery of metals by liquid-liquid extraction. The method is two-stage, in which a solid hydroxylamine is used in the reaction stage, and the removal of the undesirable compounds generated in the reaction occurs in the second stage by adsorption purification. The method of the invention is suitable for treatment of degraded oxime metal extractants in various process organic solutions both in aldehyde and ketoxime extractant solutions. The method can also be used to treat a mixture of degraded oxime extractants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: James KABUGO, Erkki PAATERO
  • Publication number: 20180073103
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for recovering gold from a gold-containing organic solution containing soluble gold. The method comprises contacting the gold-containing organic solution with an aqueous stripping solution in order to extract gold from the gold-containing organic solution into the aqueous stripping solution. The aqueous stripping solution containing gold is separated from the organic solution. The separated aqueous stripping solution containing gold is contacted with a reducing agent containing sodium metabisulphite, in order to reduce gold from the aqueous stripping solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventor: Mika HAAPALAINEN
  • Publication number: 20180073102
    Abstract: Provided are a method and an arrangement for operating a metallurgical furnace. The method comprises a feeding step, and a temperature controlling step for controlling the temperature of a molten metal layer and a slag layer in a furnace space of the metallurgical furnace. The temperature controlling step comprises a first measuring step for measuring the slag temperature (Tslag), a second measuring step for measuring the slag liquidus temperature (Tslag, liquidus), and a calculating step for calculating a superheat temperature (Tsuperheat) by calculating the temperature difference between the slag temperature (Tslag) and the slag liquidus temperature (Tslag, liquidus). In case the calculated superheat temperature (Tsuperheat) is outside a predefined superheat temperature range (Tsuperheat set), the method comprises an adjusting step for adjusting to adjust the actual superheat temperature. Also provided are computer program products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Peter BJÖRKLUND, Oskari KARHUVAARA, Mikael P. JÅFS, Lauri P. PESONEN
  • Patent number: 9895644
    Abstract: Provided are a method and to a wet scrubber for removing particles from gas. The wet scrubber includes a second vertical cylindrical vessel having a second upper end for receiving an accelerated stream of liquid- and particles-laden gas from a vertically oriented venturi channel and a second lower end for feeding the accelerated stream of liquid- and particles-laden gas to a swirl generator. The second vertical cylindrical vessel and the swirl generator are arranged in a vertical cylindrical separation space of a first vertical cylindrical vessel. The swirl generator is arranged above the liquid tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Jiliang Xia, Robert Johansson, Satu Jyrkönen, Leif Skilling, Anders Gustavsson, Lars Hedström
  • Patent number: 9884287
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an arrangement for removing gaseous elementary mercury from a stream of gas and to an arrangement for carrying out the method. The arrangement comprises a first washing tower (2) for receiving a stream of gas, a second washing tower (6) for receiving a stream of once processed gas (5) from the first washing tower (2), and a third washing tower (9) for receiving a stream of twice processed gas (23) from the second washing tower (6) and configured for discharging a stream of cleaned gas (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventor: Torkel Allgulin
  • Patent number: 9879697
    Abstract: A hydrofoil impeller wherein the tip edge is straight and has a right angle with a radius extending from the central axis to the tip edge. In the central hub and in each of the blades the number of holes in each group of first and second holes is at least five. The pattern in which the holes are arranged in each of the respective groups of holes is elliptical having a center and a major axis which is substantially parallel to the radius and placed at a distance therefrom. The leading edge is, in the direction of rotation, behind an imaginary radial line intersecting the central axis of the shaft and the center of the ellipse, the leading edge being at an angle of 50°±2° in relation to the radial line. The area of the blade is divided into four planar portions by three straight bends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Ville Strömmer, Markus Lehtonen, Tuomas Hirsi, Marko Latva-Kokko
  • Patent number: 9873070
    Abstract: Methods and equipment for preparing a precoat on the surface of a filter medium of a polishing filter. A feature in the invention is that in the polishing filter, the precoat is formed either exclusively or jointly from the underflow created in the separation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Outotec (Filters) Oy
    Inventors: Leena Tanttu, Janne Kauppi, Yrjo Oinonen
  • Publication number: 20180015388
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a launder (1) to be used in co-operation with a solvent extraction settler (2) comprises manufacturing at the site of manufacture, such as in an engineering workshop, a plurality of self-supporting launder element modules (3), each having exterior dimensions, strength and handling and securing means (4) conforming to shipping container standards, transporting the launder element modules (3) to the site of installation as normal freight by transport equipment, such as trucks, trailers and container ships, capable of handling and transporting shipping container standard compatible units, and assembling at the site of installation the launder element modules (3) into a module group (5) forming a complete launder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Jussi VAARNO, Rami SAARIO, Henri FREDRIKSSON