Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for the pyrometallurgical smelting of metal-containing raw materials, waste materials and/or secondary waste materials (M), wherein these are fed in shredded form to a smelting unit (1) which includes a smelting zone (6), a main reaction zone (7) and a secondary reaction zone (8) and are smelted in the presence of an oxidizing, reducing and/or inert gas and/or gas mixture (G), such that a liquid melt phase (9), a liquid slag phase (10) and a gas phase are formed. The oxidizing, reducing and/or inert gas and/or gas mixture (G) is supplied in compressed form via at least one injector (11) and is expanded adiabatically within the smelting unit (1) and is then injected as adiabatically expanded gas and/or gas mixture into the liquid slag phase (10).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and a smelting unit (1) for the pyrometallurgical smelting of metal-containing raw materials, waste materials and/or secondary waste materials (M) in the presence of an oxidizing, reducing and/or inert gas (G).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the granulation of a metallurgical slag, wherein liquid slag (1) is atomized by blowing air (2) onto it and the slag particles (3) granulated in this way are collected. In order to ensure a high quality of the granulate and operate in the most energy-efficient manner possible, the invention provides that the atomization is done by blowing heated air jet (2) free from the addition of water onto the liquid slag (1) and the slag is supplied to a working chamber (4), wherein the granulated slag particles (3) are collected in the floor region of the working chamber (4), wherein the air (5) escaping from the working chamber (4) is either supplied to a heat exchanger (6), which preheats the air jet blown onto the liquid slag (1), or directly recirculated in order to atomize the liquid slag (1).

Abstract: A method for obtaining non-ferrous metals, in particular black and/or raw copper, from scrap containing organic matter, comprises the following steps: i) providing a melting reactor, wherein the melting reactor includes a melting region, a combustion region and a pyrolysis region; ii) supplying the melting reactor with a mixture comprising the scrap such that it first passes through the pyrolysis region and the combustion region before it reaches the melting region, and is at least partially pre-pyrolyzed and/or combusted, such that an energy-containing gas stream is formed; iii) transferring the energy-containing gas stream into a thermal post-combustion chamber, in which the energy-containing gas stream is completely combusted and thermal energy released during combustion is carried off via an energy recovery unit; and iv) melting the scrap containing organic matter at least part of which has been pre-pyrolized and/or combusted.

Abstract: A method for obtaining metals of the 8th to 14th groups, in particular raw copper, comprises the following steps: i) providing and melting down a mixed feed comprising electronic waste in a smelting reactor, so that a first melt with a first metallic phase and a first slag phase is formed; ii) separating out the first slag phase from the smelting reactor; iii) refining the remaining first metallic phase by means of an oxygen-containing gas, possibly with the addition of copper-containing residual materials, so that a second, copper-enriched slag phase is formed; iv) possibly separating off the second slag phase and repeating the step; v) separating off the refined first metallic phase from the smelting reactor; and vi) adding a further mixed feed comprising electronic waste to the remaining second, copper-enriched slag phase and repeating process steps i) to vi).

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for extracting a metal from a slag containing said metal, wherein the liquefied metal-containing slag is heated in at least one electric arc furnace (1, 2). In order provide an improved method for recovering especially copper from slags, the invention provides that the metal-containing slag is heated in a first furnace (1) constructed as an AC electric furnace or a DC electric furnace, and the melt is introduced from the first furnace (1) into a second furnace (2) which is constructed as a DC electric furnace. Further, the invention is directed to an arrangement for extracting a metal from a slag containing said metal.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic circuit and a method for feeding power to at least one electrode of an alternating-current electric-arc furnace, particularly for melting metal. Known circuits of this type typically comprise a series connection with a transformer for providing a supply voltage for the electric-arc furnace from a power grid (1) and a AC power controller (8) connected between the transformer (6) and the electrode (11) for regulating the current through the electrode (11). According to the invention, a further development for such electronic circuits is proposed, which development has a simple design, is inexpensive and prevents overload of the AC power controller (8) even in operating modes of the electric-arc furnaces at high electrode currents. This further development provides to bypass the AC power controller with a bypass switch (9) that is opened or closed with the help of a controller as a function of the amount of current flowing through the electrode (11).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the continuous or discontinuous extraction of a metal or several metals from a slag that contains the metal or a compound of the metal, in which the liquefied metal-containing slag is heated in a primary or secondary smelting unit (1). To provide an improved method for extracting metals, especially copper, from slags, the invention provides that the metal-containing slag is heated in a primary or secondary smelting unit (1) designed as an alternating-current electric furnace, and the molten material is then fed from the primary or secondary smelting unit (1) into a furnace (2) designed as a direct-current electric furnace, in which the metal to be extracted is subjected to an electrolytic separation, where a reducing agent in the form of calcium silicide (CaSi), calcium carbide (CaC2), ferrosilicon (FeO), aluminum (Al), and/or reducing gases is added and/or injected into the primary or secondary smelting unit (1).

Abstract: A cooling element for cooling the refractory lining of a metallurgical furnace. A cooling element is to be provided which prevents coolant from entering the interior of the furnace while maintaining a good cooling action. This is achieved by a cooling plate which faces the refractory lining, a heat-conducting plate which is arranged at an angle to the latter, which is fixedly connected to the cooling plate and extends out of the furnace wall. The cooling plate and the heat-conducting plate are made of solid material. A coolant channel which is fixedly connected to the heat-conducting plate is connected to a coolant input and a coolant output.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing and/or refining a metal-containing slag. The aim of the invention is to improve reduction of the slag. For this purpose, calcium carbide (CaC2) is added to the slag as the reducing agent.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the continuous or discontinuous extraction of a metal or several metals from a slag that contains the metal or a compound of the metal, in which the liquefied metal-containing slag is heated in a primary or secondary smelting unit (1). To provide an improved method for extracting metals, especially copper, from slags, the invention provides that the metal-containing slag is heated in a primary or secondary smelting unit (1) designed as an alternating-current electric furnace, and the molten material is then fed from the primary or secondary smelting unit (1) into a furnace (2) designed as a direct-current electric furnace, in which the metal to be extracted is subjected to an electrolytic separation, where a reducing agent in the form of calcium silicide (CaSi), calcium carbide (CaC2), ferrosilicon (FeO), aluminum (Al), and/or reducing gases is added and/or injected into the primary or secondary smelting unit (1).

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for extracting a metal from a slag containing said metal, wherein the liquefied metal-containing slag is heated in at least one electric arc furnace (1, 2). In order provide an improved method for recovering especially copper from slags, the invention provides that the metal-containing slag is heated in a first furnace (1) constructed as an AC electric furnace or a DC electric furnace, and the melt is introduced from the first furnace (1) into a second furnace (2) which is constructed as a DC electric furnace. Further, the invention is directed to an arrangement for extracting a metal from a slag containing said metal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing and/or refining a metal-containing slag. The aim of the invention is to improve reduction of the slag. For this purpose, calcium carbide (CaC2) is added to the slag as the reducing agent.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic circuit and a method for feeding power to at least one electrode of an alternating-current electric-arc furnace, particularly for melting metal. Known circuits of this type typically comprise a series connection with a transformer for providing a supply voltage for the electric-arc furnace from a power grid (1) and a AC power controller (8) connected between the transformer (6) and the electrode (11) for regulating the current through the electrode (11). According to the invention, a further development for such electronic circuits is proposed, which development has a simple design, is inexpensive and prevents overload of the AC power controller (8) even in operating modes of the electric-arc furnaces at high electrode currents. This further development provides to bypass the AC power controller with a bypass switch (9) that is opened or closed with the help of a controller as a function of the amount of current flowing through the electrode (11).