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 method for feeding a reaction gas, such as oxygen or oxygen-enriched air to a flash smelting furnace through a concentrate burner, so that the gas is fed in around a pulverous material distribution channel located in the middle of the burner. Oxygen or oxygen-enriched air is fed into the reaction shaft through tubular channels in several separate gas jets, and the discharge velocity of the gas jets is adjusted.

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: 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 invention relates to a method for feeding a reaction gas, such as oxygen or oxygen-enriched air to a flash smelting furnace through a concentrate burner, so that the gas is fed in around a pulverous material distribution channel located in the middle of the burner. Oxygen or oxygen-enriched air is fed into the reaction shaft through tubular channels in several separate gas jets, and the discharge velocity of the gas jets is adjusted.

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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for maintaining a continuous mixing extending throughout the transversal section of the reactor space in a liquid containing solids and gas, and for simultaneously separating gas or gas and solids from the liquid. The invention also relates to an apparatus whereby the mixing is maintained, and simultaneously at least one phase is removed from the liquid under agitation. In a particularly advantageous fashion the method and apparatus of the present invention are suited for the stirring of bioreactors, as well as to removing gas and solids from the said reactors.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for feeding air into a flotation cell provided with a rotor and a stator. According to the present invention, air is fed into the intermediate space formed in between the rotor and stator covers, to above the rotor, wherefrom the air is distributed symmetrically.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for mixing liquids into each other or different phases into liquid by employing a double loop circulation, created below the surface zone of a reactor, in order to maintain an intensive mixing. It is characteristic of this Bottom Toroidal Roll or BTR principle that the employed mixer has a strong bottom draft and presses obliquely downwards, and that the mixer is installed according to the mixing method of this invention and that the flow pattern thereof is controlled in an exactly determined fashion. In our method the mixer jet hits the cylinder surface of the reactor, so that the jet is divided into two roughly equal parts by adjusting this distribution by means of a back-flow guiding member of the invention, which guiding member is located above the mixer. The rolling motion taking place in the reactor is controlled by means of specific baffles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for concentrating a certain mineral fraction attached to air bubbles from a slurry to the foam layer accumulated on the surface, so that the concentration takes place in three different mixing zones. The apparatus of the invention is formed of a colon-like flotation arrangement and of flow guides, a flow attenuator and an agitator belonging thereto. The flotation reactions are created in the bottom zone, wherefrom air bubbles and mineral particles carried by them are directed in a controlled fashion onto the surface of the apparatus. The flotation apparatus is so designed, that a strong agitation in the bottom zone can be used without causing harmful separation of the foam in the bottom part of the apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for maintaining a continuous mixing extending throughout the transversal section of the reactor space in a liquid containing solids and gas, and for simultaneously separating gas or gas and solids from the liquid. The invention also relates to an apparatus whereby the mixing is maintained, and simultaneously at least one phase is removed from the liquid under agitation. In a particularly advantageous fashion the method and apparatus of the present invention are suited for the stirring of bioreactors, as well as to removing gas and solids from the said reactors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mixing two different phases in a liquid-liquid extraction process and for separating the phases employs a spiral stirrer having two tubular coils for creating homogeneous circulation throughout a mixer. The stirrer rotates at a relatively slow speed to create an upward flow from bottom to top of the mixer near the mixer periphery and a downward flow in the middle of the mixer. The mixer has a flow reversing profile ring and is designed to prevent aeration and formation of an emulsion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for raising the temperature and mixing efficiency of mainly non-combustible pulverous solid particles so high, that a desired smelting and volatilizing is achieved. The method is characterized in that the heating and mixing are carried out in at least two stages. Advantageously the reactions are made to happen in a suspension smelting furnace, such as a flash smelting furnace.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for maintaining a continuous mixing in a liquid throughout the transversal reactor space, and for simultaneously separating from the liquid either another liquid, a solid material or possibly gas. The invention also relates to an apparatus whereby the mixing is maintained and simultaneously another phase is separated from the liquid under agitation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an appparatus where the wet scrubbing of several different gas flows is carried out in at least three scrubbing towers, and the droplet separation of scurbbed gases takes place in a cyclonic, uniform droplet separator constructed of several cylinders, so that the obtained product is a pure and droplet-free gas.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for feeding air into a flotation cell provided with a rotor and a stator. According to the method and apparatus of the present invention, air is fed into the intermediate space formed in between the rotor and stator covers, to above the rotor, wherefrom the air is distributed symmetrically.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for mixing liquids into each other or different phases into liquid by employing a double loop circulation, created below the surface zone of a reactor. In order to maintain an intensive mixing, it is characteristic of this Bottom Toroidal Roll or BTR principle that the employed mixer has a strong bottom draft and presses obliquely downward, and that the mixer is installed according to the mixing method of this invention and that the flow pattern thereof is controlled in an exactly determined fashion. In our method the mixer jet hits the cylinder surface of the reactor, so that the jet is divided into two roughly equal parts by adjusting this distribution by means of a back-flow guiding member of the invention, which guiding member is located above the mixer. The rolling motion taking place in the reactor is controlled by means of specific baffles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a smelting furnace, particularly a D.C. arc furnace, suited for the treatment of finely-divided material, which comprises at least three electrodes suspended through the roof in order to create the electric arc. The process material is fed in through at least one feed gate (30) arranged inside the circle orbit formed by the electrodes (4, 16, 26) suspended through the furnace roof, which feed gate (30) is provided with auxiliary members in order to create an even supply of the material into the furnace. In order to discharge the gases created in the process, there is provided at least one outlet (20) outside the circle orbit formed by the electrodes (4, 16, 26).The invention also relates to a method for feeding finely divided material into the smelting furnace. According to this method, the material is fed through the feed gate (30) in suspension, either vertically or tangentially.

Abstract: The invention is related to a method for dispersing two phases in an extraction process so that each extraction step includes several mixing stages, and at each mixing stage the mixing is carried out by means of a vertical circulation and advantageously at least one mixing stage is provided with an intensified vertical circulation. According to the invention, the dispersing apparatus of one extraction step in an extraction process is formed of several mixers provided with circulation cylinders (11). Advantageously at least one of the mixers is provided with a dispersing pump (16).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for dispersing the two liquid phases of a solvent extraction process well together, for controlling the desired type of dispersion and for raising the created dispersion to a level essentially higher than the liquid surface in the mixing tank. In the apparatus of the invention, to the circulation cylinder (6) of the mixer there is connected the heavy phase return conduit (27) and the light phase return conduit (29) entering from the settler of the same extraction step. In the top part of the mixer, coaxially with the turbine pump (9), there is installed the dispersion pump (12) where the dispersion rises to above the liquid surface (8) of the mixer through 2-24 rising pipes (15). The top ends of the rising pipes (15) are connected to the circular pipe (18), wherefrom the dispersion flow is conducted to the next stage through the collecting trough (22).