Patents by Inventor René Ignacio Olivares

René Ignacio Olivares has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Production of nickel
    Patent number: 8460429
    Abstract: A method of smelting a nickel intermediate product in a smelter that contains a molten bath of metal and slag to produce a nickel product, the method comprising supplying the nickel intermediate product and a solid reductant to the smelter and smelting the nickel intermediate product to produce molten nickel, and controlling the chemistry of the slag so that the slag has (a) a high solubility for elements and compounds in the nickel intermediate product that are regarded as contaminants in the nickel product and (b) a liquidus temperature in the range of 1300-1700 C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: BHP Billiton Innovation Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Ivan Ratchev, Gregory David Rigby, René Ignacio Olivares, Grant Caffery
  • Production of Nickel
    Publication number: 20110118100
    Abstract: A method of smelting a nickel intermediate product in a smelter that contains a molten bath of metal and slag to produce a nickel product, the method comprising supplying the nickel intermediate product and a solid reductant to the smelter and smelting the nickel intermediate product to produce molten nickel, and controlling the chemistry of the slag so that the slag has (a) a high solubility for elements and compounds in the nickel intermediate product that are regarded as contaminants in the nickel product and (b) a liquidus temperature in the range of 1300-1700 C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Ivan Ratchev, Gregory David Rigby, René Ignacio Olivares, Grant Caffery
  • Production of Nickel
    Publication number: 20110103998
    Abstract: A method of producing a nickel product (including nickel alloy products and products such as nickel matte) from a nickel intermediate product is disclosed. The method comprises smelting a dried nickel intermediate product in a molten bath-based smelter and forming a molten pool containing a molten metal and a slag, with the molten metal being the nickel product. Intermediate and end products produced by the method are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Ivan Ratchev, Grant Caffery, Simon Philip Sullivan, René Ignacio Olivares, Gregory David Rigby