Patents Assigned to OUTOTEC OYJ
  • Patent number: 8377513
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for coating a cooling element (1) mainly made of copper, provided with water cooling pipes (2) and used particularly in connection with metallurgic furnaces or the like, wherein the cooling element includes a fire surface (3) that is in contact with molten metal, suspension or process gas; side surfaces (6) and an outer surface (7), so that at least part of the fire surface (3) is coated by a corrosion resistant coating (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Risto Saarinen, Yrjö Leppänen
  • Publication number: 20130031883
    Abstract: A vortex finder support is provided for fixing a vortex finder in an inlet region of a cyclone that includes a waste gas conduit leading out of the inlet region. A sleeve-shaped support element is configured to be disposed in the waste gas conduit and associated to the vortex finder, the support element including at least one lateral mounting hole having an approximately rectangular cross-section. A ring is configured to surround the support element and at least one of surround and be integrated in the waste gas conduit, the ring including a lateral opening. At least one holt having an approximately rectangular cross-section is configured to extend through the lateral opening of the ring and the mounting hole of the support element so as to connect the ring with the support element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Elena Werchowski, Bernd Roos, Jenny Jarabo
  • Publication number: 20130026270
    Abstract: The employed feed element in a grinding body feed apparatus of a grinding mill is the grinding bodies supply tank proper, in which the grinding bodies are charged from a ball hopper or storage. In connection with the supply tank, there is provided a grinding bodies discharge element, by means of which the grinding bodies are conducted to a duct serving as a feed chute and leading to the grinding mill, and via said duct, to the grinding mill proper. The opening and closing of the supply tank is carried out by external, opposing control elements that encircle the drum element of the supply tank in relation to its frame. By means of the feed device, it is possible to feed one ball at a time to the mill, in which case a correct number of balls can be supplied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Simo Fransas, Yongsun Bae, Ilkka Rekolainen, Johannes Pylvänen, Kaur Jaakma, Markus Strandvall, Pasi Pohjola, Ali Salomäki, Jouni Hyttinen
  • Publication number: 20130026049
    Abstract: A method for recovering valuable metals, such as lead, silver and gold from the residue of an electrolytic zinc process, wherein the residue from the zinc process is suspended and sulfidized for converting the lead and silver compounds into sulfidic form, and further flotated for forming a flotation concentrate that contains valuable metals, wherein the sulfidizing and flotation processes are controlled electrochemically, so that the content of the sulfide ions fed in the sulfidizing stage is adjusted by means of the redox potential to a level where the grain size of the created valuable metal sulfides is sufficient for flotating them, and that the redox potential of the flotation stage is adjusted to be within a range where the collector chemical is adhered to the mineral to be flotated, but the sulfides are not oxidized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventor: Jaakko Leppinen
  • Patent number: 8360245
    Abstract: The invention relates to an equipment and method for flotating mineral slurry (4) in a flotation cell provided with a flotation mechanism (3), comprising at least a drive shaft (6), a rotor (5) and a stator (7), and at least one inlet (11) for feeding mineral slurry (4), a froth launder system (8) for removing mineral enriched froth, at least two discharge outlets (28, 12) for removing two material flows with two different grain sizes from the flotation cell, in which case the flotation cell (2) is provided with a classifying equipment (1) including means for setting the mineral slurry (24) to be classified, separated from the mineral slurry, in an essentially upwardly moving rotary motion in the flotation cell, as well as means for separating coarser material (25) from finely divided material (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventor: Timo Niitti
  • Patent number: 8357227
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the removal of metal impurities in chloride-based copper recovery processes. The amount of impurities in a strong chloride solution of monovalent copper can be reduced according to the method down to very low levels by using ion exchange as at least one purification stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventor: Raimo Leimala
  • Patent number: 8352197
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement and method for monitoring and presenting the status of an electrolytic process in an electrolytic cell (1). The arrangement is characterized by a return channel arrangement (8) for transmitting status information, established by the data processing means (7) of a data processing device (6) and describing the status of the electrolytic process in the electrolytic cell (1), from the data processing device (6) to an indicator device (9) arranged in connection with the electrolytic cell (1). The indicator device (9) comprises first presentation means (10) for presenting the status information established by the data processing means (7) of the data processing device (6) and describing the status of the electrolytic process in the electrolytic cell (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Ari Rantala, Lauri Nordlund, Jyrki Malinen
  • Patent number: 8348246
    Abstract: A system for distributing a fluid via a packing disposed in a container, the packing configured to have the fluid trickle from a top to a bottom thereof, includes at least one distributor member including a pressure conduit having at least one nozzle configured to discharge the fluid therethrough and a distributor channel adjoining the distributor member. A width of the distributor channel does not substantially exceed a diameter of the distributor member. The distributor channel defines at least one outlet slot disposed at a lower end of the distributor channel. The at least one outlet slot has a specified width and is configured to discharge the fluid from the distributor channel to the packing via a guide member. The distributor channel is configured to receive the fluid discharged from the at least one nozzle so as to provide a specified level of the fluid in the distributor channel. The distributor channel forms a ventable chamber above the specified fluid level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, Wolf-Christoph Rauser, Wolfram Schalk
  • Publication number: 20130000869
    Abstract: A process for cooling an acid that is withdrawn from an absorption apparatus of a sulfuric acid plant includes pumping the acid to be cooled from an acid pump tank and supplying the acid to a shell space of a heat exchanger. Water is supplied as a heat transport medium to heat transfer elements disposed in the shell space so as to at least partially convert, by heat transfer from the acid, the water to steam. The acid which was cooled in the heat exchanger is supplied back to the absorption apparatus. The water is separated from the steam in a steam drum. The separated water is recirculated to the heat exchanger using a pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, Wolfram Schalk
  • Publication number: 20120325730
    Abstract: An air distribution and mixing device is arranged in the vicinity of the bottom of a flotation cell for distributing air to the slurry for forming froth and mixing the slurry in the flotation cell. A rotor part of the air distribution and mixing device has air distribution apertures and is attached to the lower end of a drive shaft extending vertically in the flotation cell. The drive shaft has a hollow interior, which constitutes a flow channel for conducting flotation air to the air distribution holes of the rotor part. An electric motor for rotating the drive shaft is supported by a separate supporting framework, which is on top of the flotation cell. The electric motor is a permanent magnet motor that comprises having a vertical rotor shaft, the lower end of which is in permanent contact directly with the upper end of the drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Aleksi Peltola, Antti Rinne
  • Patent number: 8337801
    Abstract: A process for producing calcine products includes dead roasting a metal sulfide concentrate having a low sulfur content. The concentrate is roasted in a circulating fluidized bed at a temperature of about 950 to 1050° C. A waste gas of the fluidized bed is passed through at least one of a recuperator and a Venturi drier so as to respectively provide at least one of a preheating of at least a portion of air fluidizing the fluidized bed and a drying of at least a portion of the concentrate to be roasted. The calcine product obtained in the fluidized bed with a sulfur content of less than 1 wt-% is provided for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Joerg Hammerschmidt, Bernd Kerstiens, Peter Sturm
  • Publication number: 20120318102
    Abstract: The invention relates to the hydrometallurgical treatment of laterite ores in order to recover valuable metals. More specifically, the invention presented relates to a method for improving precipitation and solid-liquid separation in conjunction with the leaching of laterite ores. According to the method the slurry exiting the leaching of laterite ores is neutralised, after which part of the slurry is routed to solid-liquid separation. Iron is precipitated from the solid-liquid separation overflow by neutralising the solution and the solution that is formed, which includes jarosite seeds, is routed to an appropriate point in the process to control the precipitation of iron and to enhance the filterability of the solids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Teppo Riihimäki, Jaakko Leppinen, Mikko Ruonala, Liisa Haavanlammi
  • Publication number: 20120308473
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a concentration of an acid or lye includes charging a medium for adjusting the concentration of the acid or lye into a supply conduit of the acid or lye so as to provide a combined stream. The combined stream is supplied through an inlet to a mixing chamber such that the combined stream is deflected upon entering the mixing chamber. The combined stream is mixed in the mixing chamber. The combined stream is discharged through an outlet of the mixing chamber such that the combined stream is again deflected upon being discharged from the mixing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, Henry Eisermann, Wolfram Schalk
  • Publication number: 20120298523
    Abstract: In a method for producing metal powder, the first part of an acid-containing starting solution is fed on the anode side of an electrolytic cell as anolyte, to contact the anode and supply material containing yield metal, and a second part of the acid-containing starting solution, which also contains intermediary metal, is fed on the cathode side of the electrolytic cell, to contact the cathode as catholyte. Yield metal is oxidized and dissolved in the anolyte by leading electric current in the anode. The yield metal contained in the second part of the starting solution is reduced on the cathode side. Anolyte solution and catholyte solution are fed to a precipitating chamber for mixing the dissolved, oxidized yield metal and the second part of the starting solution containing reduced intermediary metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Ville Nieminen, Henri Virtanen
  • Publication number: 20120297929
    Abstract: A method for the selective recovery of uranium from a sulphate-based acidic aqueous solution of uranium containing iron and other metals by means of solvent extraction, in which the extractant used in the organic extraction solution is bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate and a liquid branched trialkyl phosphine oxide is the modifying agent. It is typical of the method that the uranium concentration in the feed solution is less than 50 mg/l and a reducing agent is introduced into the aqueous and/or extraction solution to prevent the permanent oxidation of iron to trivalent. In the method the majority of the extraction solution is circulated in a circuit consisting of the extraction stage and the storage tank and only a small part of the uranium-loaded extraction solution is routed to scrubbing and stripping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Bror Nyman, Erkki Paatero, Stig-Erik Hultholm, Eero Ekman
  • Patent number: 8313715
    Abstract: A process for producing metal oxide from metal salts includes cleaning a metal salt in a filter. After cleaning, the metal salt is dried in a drying apparatus. Steam is formed in the drying apparatus. The metal salt is preheated in at least one preheating stage. The metal salt is calcined to metal oxide in a fluidized-bed reactor. The metal oxide is cooled. The steam formed in the drying apparatus is recirculated into the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Michael Missalla, Guenter Schneider, Jan Jarzembowski, Erwin Schmidbauer
  • Patent number: 8303795
    Abstract: In the method and system, a number of electrolytic cells are arranged as a cell group, which cells are separated by a number of partition walls; in each cell, a number of anodes and cathodes are arranged in an alternating order, so that in each cell, next to each anode, there is arranged a cathode, and so that in each cell, each individual anode is fitted in the same anode line with the anode of the adjacent cell, and in each cell, each individual cathode is fitted in the same cathode line with the cathode of the adjacent cell, and each anode is galvanically connected to at least one cathode of the adjacent cell. The flowing direction of the current passing in the cell group is deviated in different directions in order to make the current flow mainly in the direction of the cell group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Henri Virtanen, Olli Jarvinen, Lauri Palmu, Ilkka Laitinen
  • Publication number: 20120269688
    Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of at least one of solids and gases includes a fluidized-bed reactor configured to fluidize the solids using fluidizing gas and to at least one of thermally and chemically treat the solids. A centrifugal separator is configured to separate the fluidizing gas and the solids from each other. A transfer duct connects the fluidized-bed reactor and centrifugal separator to each other. The transfer duct has a trapezoidal cross-section in a vertical direction and in a horizontal direction. The transfer duct branches off from the fluidized bed reactor with a cross-section having a horizontal dimension that is greater than a vertical dimension. The cross-section of the transfer duct expands downwards in the vertical direction from the fluidized-bed reactor to the centrifugal separator. The cross-section of the transfer duct tapers in the horizontal direction from the fluidized-bed reactor towards the centrifugal separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Rene-Arndt Erler, Michael Missalla, Rolf Gilgen
  • Publication number: 20120255462
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of geopolymers from oil shale and/or mineral residues, which originate from the production of oil by means of oil shale. To use the residues left in the combustion of oil shale for the production of geopolymers, the oil shale and/or also mineral residues, which originate from the production of oil by means of shale are burnt and subsequently ground, before they are mixed with an alkaline activator and water and cured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Edgar Gasafi, Katja Dombrowski-Daube
  • Publication number: 20120256360
    Abstract: The invention relates to a metallurgical furnace, comprising a furnace body (1), a trunnion ring (2), and a pedestal structure (3). The furnace body (1) is arranged in the trunnion ring (2) rotatably about a rotation axis (A) by means of a supporting arrangement (4) comprising a bearing arrangement (5) between the trunnion ring (2) and the furnace body (1). The supporting arrangement (4) comprises a first connection frame means (7) between the furnace body (1) and the bearing arrangement (5), and a second connection frame means (8) between the bearing arrangement (5) and the trunnion ring (2). The second connection frame means (8) is connected to the trunnion ring (2) by a first attachment (9) providing for movements between the second connection frame means (8) and the trunnion ring (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Per Kågström, Lars Lundin, Sam Marklund