Abstract: A method and apparatus for the pyrometallurgical treatment of fine grained solids such as non-ferrous metal ore concentrates with an oxygen-containing gas wherein the solids are mixed with the gas to form a suspension which is blown through a nozzle into a reaction chamber such as a vertical melting cyclone. In the reaction chamber, the solids are brought to reaction and melted. The invention is concerned with injecting a particle stream through the reaction zone as a focused open jet having mass flow velocity of greater than 50 kg/m.sup.2 .multidot.sec and having a linear speed of more than 35 m/sec. The particle stream is ignited by the hot combustion gases thereof or by a pilot flame. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the particle stream is directed along a horizontal secant of the chamber to the opposite wall.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the pyrometallurgical treatment of fine grained solids such as non-ferrous metal ore concentrates with an oxygen-containing gas wherein the solids are mixed with the gas to form a suspension which is blown through a nozzle into a reaction chamber such as a vertical melting cyclone. In the reaction chamber, the solids are brought to reaction and melted. The invention is concerned with injecting a particle stream through the reaction zone as a focused open jet having mass flow velocity of greater than 50 kg/m.sup.2.sec and having a linear speed of more than 35 m/sec. The particle stream is ignited by the hot combustion gases thereof or by a pilot flame. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the particle stream is directed along a horizontal secant of the chamber to the opposite wall.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing pyro-metallurgical processes, such as those involved in the reaction melting of fine grained solids or for the after-treatment of melts wherein an exothermically reacting solids/gas mixture is conducted through an acceleration jet as a heterogenous stream and is blown onto a melt contained in the furnace. The jet stream is ignited immediately upon discharge from the jet and a sharply focused or highly concentrated particle stream having a high surface power density (high mass flow velocity) and a high temperature is impacted against the melt. This results in the melt being subjected to localized intensive movement and is simultaneously heated. The method is suitable for the reaction melting of sulfidic or oxidic non-ferrous metal concentrates as well as for the reduction and/or depletion of non-ferrous metal containing slags, and for the reduction of metal melts.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for treatment of molten slag having heavy metal oxides for the recovery of valuable metals contained therein through precipitation during slag melting and volatilization out of the slag bath including blowing reaction gases through a nozzle in a vertical jet with substantial force down onto the surface of the slag melt generating a torus movement of the slag material and forming a depression in the surface of the slag causing a reacting contact between the gas of the jet and the slag and causing a torus movement in the molten material beneath the slag and adjusting the vertical position and force of the jet so that the induced flow in the material beneath the slag is in the range of 2 to 5 times greater than the horizontal diameter of the depression in the slag surface caused by the jet.

Abstract: A method for continuously refining impurities from a copper melt wherein molten copper is conveyed sequentially through reduction and oxidation zones where it is reacted with gases to free it from impurities. The method involves passing an oxygen containing gas into contact with a molten copper bath in the form of a vertical jet under controlled pressure conditions, controlled velocity, controlled spacing and the like, resulting in a convective material exchange between the copper bath and the gas before the gas is used to oxidize a reducing gas stream.