Abstract: The invention relates to a suspension smelting furnace comprising a reaction shaft (1), an uptake shaft (2), and a lower furnace (3), as well as a concentrate burner (4) for feeding reaction gas and fine solids into the reaction shaft (1) of the suspension smelting furnace. The concentrate burner (4) comprises a fine solids discharge channel (5) that is radially limited by the wall (6) of the solids discharge channel, a fine solids dispersion device (7) in the fine solids discharge channel (5), an annular reaction gas channel (8) that surrounds the fine solids discharge channel (5) and is radially limited by the wall (9) of the annular reaction gas channel (8), and a cooling block (10) that surrounds the annular reaction gas channel (8). The cooling block (10) is a component that is manufactured by a continuous casting method.

Abstract: A solvent extraction settler arrangement comprising a mixing unit for preparing a dispersion from mutually immiscible solutions and a settler having a feed end and a discharge end. The settler is arranged to separate solution phases from a dispersion fed from the feed end while the dispersion flows towards the discharge end. The arrangement further comprises a feeding device located at the feed end for feeding the dispersion prepared by the mixing unit to the settler. The feeding device comprises an elongated feed launder having a first end for receiving the dispersion from the mixing unit, and a second end. The feed launder extends alongside the feed end of the settler. The feed launder has a form of a conical tube with a cross-section converging towards the second end and an inclined bottom ascending towards the second end.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an arrangement for feeding fine-grained matter to a concentrate burner (1) or a matte burner of a suspension smelting furnace (2). The invention relates also to a controlling means for controlling feeding of fine-grained matter to a concentrate burner (1) or a matte burner of a suspension smelting furnace (2) in an arrangement for feeding fine-grained matter to a concentrate burner (1) or a matte burner of a suspension smelting furnace (2). The invention relates also to controlling means for controlling feeding of fine-grained matter to a concentrate burner (1) or a matte burner of a suspension smelting furnace (2) in an arrangement for feeding fine-grained matter to a concentrate burner (1) or a matte burner of a suspension smelting furnace (2) and to a computer program product.

Abstract: A process for the production of liquid acid, comprising the steps of: feeding liquid acid with a first concentration into a gas purification; passing a gas through the gas purification such that a second concentration of the liquid acid is reached; withdrawing the liquid acid from the sump of the gas purification, where in the gas purification sump is divided by a partition wall into a first and a second section. The concentration of the liquid acid collected in the first section is adjusted to the first concentration. The liquid acid with the first concentration from the first section is at least partially fed back into step and the liquid acid with the second concentration collected in the second section is at least partially withdrawn as product.

Abstract: The invention relates to method and to an arrangement for removing outgrowth in a suspension smelting furnace. The suspension smelting furnace comprising a reaction shaft having a reaction shaft structure. The reaction shaft comprises at least one opening for an outgrowth removal means. The movable piston is arranged such that the movable piston can move in the opening in the reaction shaft and into the reaction shaft to push possible outgrowth in the reaction shaft.

Abstract: A process for separating heavy metals from a phosphoric starting material includes, in a step (i), heating the starting material to a temperature between 700 and 1,100° C. in a first reactor and withdrawing combustion gas. In a step (ii), the heated starting material at the temperature between 700 and 1,100° C. is transferred to a second reactor, chlorides of alkaline and alkaline earth metals are added and process gas is withdrawn.

Abstract: The invention describes a process for producing sulfuric acid by catalytic oxidation of SO2 to SO3 and subsequent absorption of the SO3 in sulfuric acid, wherein the SO3 is introduced into a first absorption stage (primary absorber) and at least partly absorbed there in concentrated sulfuric acid, wherein the SO3 not absorbed in the first absorption stage is supplied to a second absorption stage (secondary absorber) for the further absorption in concentrated sulfuric acid, and wherein the sulfuric acid is cooled after passing through the two absorption stages. The cooling of the sulfuric acid is effected in at least two heat exchangers connected in parallel, wherein one of the at least two heat exchangers is operated as partial evaporator and is cooled with boiler feed water/steam and the other one is cooled with cooling water and operated as pure acid cooler.

Abstract: A TSL lance has an outer shell of three substantially concentric lance pipes, at least one further lance pipe concentrically within the shell, and an annular end wall at an outlet end of the lance which joins ends of outermost and innermost lance pipes of the shell at an outlet end of the lance and is spaced from an outlet end of the intermediate lance pipe of the shell. Coolant fluid is able to be circulated through the shell, by flow to and away from the outlet end. The spacing between the end wall and the outlet end of the intermediate pipe provides a constriction to the flow of coolant fluid to increase coolant fluid flow velocity therebetween. The further lance pipe defines a central bore and is spaced from the innermost lance pipe of the shell to define an annular passage, whereby materials passing along the bore and the passage mix adjacent to the outlet end of the lance. The end wall and an adjacent minor part of the length of the shell comprise a replaceable lance tip assembly.

Abstract: A method for measuring the displacement of a surface relative to a base reference. The method includes generating point cloud data between a reference point and a surface disposed distally from the reference point to define a three dimensional image of the surface. The method also includes determining the location and direction of key reference parameters of the object defined by the three dimensional image from the point cloud data. The method also includes obtaining base reference data in a prescribed co-ordinate system in respect of a base reference relative to the surface. Further, the method provides for processing the point cloud data and the base reference data, orientating the point cloud data relative to the key reference parameters defined by the base reference data and transforming the point cloud data into a co-ordinate system coinciding with the base reference data.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for taking slurry samples from a continuous gravity process flow (PF). The sampling is carried out in two stages by first and second sampling units (1, 2). The primary sample flow (PSF) and the secondary sample flow (SSF) are arranged as pressureless open-channel type flows, so that the flow rate of the secondary sample flow (SSF) to be led for analysis is approximately proportional to an instantaneous flow rate of the process flow (PF).

Abstract: The invention relates to a stirred tank reactor for gas-liquid mass transfer in a slurry. The reactor includes a reactor tank (1) having a first volume (V1), a drive shaft (2) that extends vertically in the reactor tank, a motor (3) for rotating the drive shaft (2), a main impeller (4) which is a downward pumping axial flow impeller attached to the drive shaft (2) to create a main flow pattern in the reactor tank, and a gas inlet (5) arranged to supply gas into the reactor tank (1) to be dispersed to the liquid.

Abstract: A solvent extraction settler arrangement comprising a mixing unit for preparing a dispersion from mutually immiscible solutions and a settler having a feed end and a discharge end. The settler is arranged to separate solution phases from a dispersion fed from the feed end while the dispersion flows towards the discharge end. The arrangement further comprises a feeding device located at the feed end for feeding the dispersion prepared by the mixing unit to the settler. The feeding device comprises an elongated feed launder having a first end for receiving the dispersion from the mixing unit, and a second end. The feed launder extends alongside the feed end of the settler. The feed launder has a form of a conical tube with a cross-section converging towards the second end and an inclined bottom ascending towards the second end.

Abstract: This relates a lifter bar, method for making a lifter bar, a method for assembling a lifter bar and a grinding mill for ore grinding. The lifter bar comprises a lifter bar body having an outer surface conforming the outer surface of the lifter bar, and a fixing element for connecting the lifter bar to the shell of the grinding mill. The lifter bar body further comprises a first portion and a second portion forming a continuous lifter bar body. The fixing element is embedded to the first portion such that it forms part of the fixing surface of the lifter bar. The second portion is made of polyurethane and forming 35-85% of the volume of the lifter bar.

Abstract: A method for producing a coal cake that is suitable for coking and for subsequent charging of a coking oven chamber. At least one vibrating station including a push-table vibrating machine with an oscillatorily mounted vibrating table is provided. A mold box is clamped to the vibrating table. The mold box is filled with granular raw coal material. A weight is placed on top of the mold box. The mold box is vertically oscillated while the weight presses from above into the mold box so as to mold a vibration-compacted coal block. The vibration-compacted coal block is pushed off the vibrating table, using an ejector, onto an underlying support. The vibration-compacted coal block is pushed on the underlying support by a length (x) of the vibration-compacted coal block successive to another vibration-compacted coal block. The vibration-compacted coal blocks are successively stacked so as to form the coal cake. The coal cake is introduced into the coking oven chamber using a transporting device.

Abstract: An apparatus for the thermal treatment of lump or agglomerated material in a firing machine includes a travelling grate configured to convey the material through the firing machine. A firing chamber has a ceiling and side walls and is configured to generate temperatures required for the thermal treatment. The ceiling has a plurality of openings and the side walls have a plurality of burners that are directed obliquely upwards. A cooling zone is configured to pass cooling gases through the thermally treated material so as to heat the cooling gases. A recuperation tube is configured to recirculate the heated cooling gases to the firing chamber through the openings in the ceiling.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in the electro-production of metals, comprising a plurality of anodes and a plurality of cathodes in an interleaved configuration, wherein each anode and cathode pair forms a cell; a plurality of power supplies, each cell associated with one or more respective power supplies; and the power supplies are arranged to control a direct current in the one or more cells to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method is provided for leaching the metals while granulating molten matte, comprising the steps of feeding a molten matte as a falling stream into a granulation chamber, spraying a liquid jet on the stream of molten matte to atomize the matte, and cooling the matte particles thus formed. The liquid jet comprises an acid solution containing water and sulfuric acid so that the acid solution starts leaching metals from the molten matte when the liquid jet contacts the molten matte. Part of product solution from granulation can be circulated to liquid jets to increase the metal content in the solution and to reduce its acid con-tent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for filtering a suspension in a filter device comprising a sequence of steps, including piping the suspension into the filter chamber between the filter cloths, directing the suspension through the filter cloths, discharging a liquid fraction of the suspension through the first duct and the second duct out of the filter chamber and through the first outlet of the first recess plate and the second outlet of the second recess plate as a filtrate, and piping a drying gas from the head piece into the filter chamber through the first duct and discharging the same through the second duct. The invention further relates to such a recess plate that is designed for packing a plurality of specimens of the recess plate into a pack between a stationary head piece and a moveable end piece of a filter device.

Abstract: In a method for fabricating a separation fence (1) to be used in a hydrometallurgical liquid-liquid solvent extraction settler, the fence is manufactured of polymer resin. The fence (1) is manufactured as a shell-like integral piece by rotational molding. The fence (1) is a rotationally molded shell-like integral piece.

Abstract: A lance (10), for conducting a pyrometallurgical operation by top submerged lancing (TSL) injection, wherein the lance (10) has at least an inner pipe (12) and outer pipe (14) which are substantially concentric. The lower outlet of the inner pipe (12) is set at a level relative to the lower, outlet end of the outer pipe (14) required for pyrometallurgical operation. The lance (10) further includes a shroud (22) through which the outer pipe (14) extends and which is mounted on and extends along an upper portion of the outer pipe (14) to define with the outer pipe (14) a passageway (28) along which gas is able to be supplied for flow towards the outlet end of the outer pipe (14) for discharge exteriorly of the lance (10). The shroud (22) is longitudinally adjustable relative to the outer pipe (14) to enable substantial maintenance of, or variation in, a longitudinal spacing between the outlet ends of the shroud (22) and the outer pipe (14).