Abstract: An operation method of a copper-smelting furnace is characterized by including supplying an Fe metal source into a copper-smelting furnace together with a feeding material including copper concentrate and a flux, the copper concentrate including Al, the Fe metal source including an Fe metal of 40 mass % to 100 mass %.

Abstract: An operation method of a copper-smelting furnace is characterized by including supplying an Fe metal source into a copper-smelting furnace together with a feeding material including copper concentrate and a flux, the copper concentrate including Al, the Fe metal source including an Fe metal of 40 mass % to 100 mass %.

Abstract: A method is provided for heating a furnace arranged with a heating zone heated with a burner providing a flame extending in a longitudinal direction and fed with a fuel and a primary oxidant, the burner is operated with a mass relationship between the fed fuel and primary oxidant permitting less than 50% of the fed fuel to be combusted using the primary oxidant, and a respective pair of secondary oxidant lances are provided one either side of the furnace pointing into the heating zone, lancing a secondary oxidant into the heating zone downstream of the burner substantially parallel with a cross plane, such that a temperature is measured downstream of the lances and that each of the lance pairs includes an upstream, low-speed first and a downstream, high-speed second lance, wherein the amount of secondary oxidant supplied via the first lance is regulated to achieve a homogenous lateral temperature profile. A related furnace is also provided.

Abstract: A method and system of controlling a melting process of copper in a copper melting furnace including measuring at least one furnace parameter, wherein the at least one furnace parameter includes one or both of a furnace temperature and a furnace exhaust oxygen concentration, calculating a first rate of change of the furnace parameter over a first time period, calculating a second rate of change of the furnace parameter over a second time period at least a portion of which occurs after the first time period, comparing the first rate of change with the second rate of change, and indicating substantial completion of a process phase in the furnace when the second rate of change deviates by a predetermined threshold percentage from the first rate of change.

Abstract: Copper is produced by a looping oxidizing process wherein oxidation of copper sulfide concentrate to molten blister copper by conversion with copper oxides (and optionally oxygen from air) in a one step, molten bath operation to produce molten blister copper, iron oxide slag, and rich SO2 off gas. The blister copper is treated in an anode furnace to reduce the iron content and oxidize residual sulfur, and prepare it for either electrolysis or reoxidation.

Abstract: An anode refinement method for high-sulfur content coarse copper: while high-sulfur coarse copper liquid from a flash converting furnace flows to the anode furnace through a chute, inert gas is continuously added, to stir the copper liquid and improve discharging of the SO2 produced from reaction of the sulfur with oxygen in the liquid and the oxygen absorbed from the atmosphere, so as to remove more than 90% sulfur in the coarse copper liquid. After the coarse copper liquid is fully led to the anode furnace, operations of low-oxidization and low-reduction, non-oxidization and low-reduction or cancel of reduction-oxidization are conducted according to the sulfur content in the copper liquid. The method can resolve the shortages in the fire-refining process, save working time, notably improve production efficiency and capacity, save energy, and settle the pollution problem of black smoke in the atmosphere.

Abstract: The invention makes public an environment-friendly non-noise matte granulation technique. Melted matte flows out from the chute, then gas is sprayed on the matte through spray facilities; the gas disperses the melted matte into a large amount of tiny liquid drops, and cools the dispersed tiny drops to semi-melted or solid copper grains; in the following dropping course, the copper grains are quenched by pressurized cold water; finally, copper grains drop to the cold-water pond along with the pressurized cold water for further cooling, and the produced sand-like mattes are sent to the next procedure through dehydration-and-transportation system. It can overcome explosion and prevent chemical reaction in quenching, reduce noise pollution, and has the properties of simple procedure and easy operation to settle the problems existed in water quenching of matte.

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: In the operation, a flux mainly composed of silica ore and a non-ferrous metal-ore raw-material are charged into a smelting furnace via a conveying system. In order to increase the production amount of the metal, the flux is conveyed and treated through a first system, in which the flux is crushed in a ball mill and dried in the bail mill, and the crushed and dried flux is conveyed directly before the smelting furnace. The non-ferrous metal ore is treated and conveyed through a second system, in which it is dried with a drier and then conveyed directly before the smelting furnace. In the drier of copper concentrate, the flux is not dried at all.

Abstract: The process for converting a copper sulphide matte to blister copper, is achieved by adding the copper sulphide matte and flux to a suitable agitated slag phase; and injecting, from a discharge tip at the lower end of a top-submerged lance, an oxidizing gas suitable for reacting with the matte to produce blister copper which forms or adds to a continuous blister copper phase below the slag phase. The lance tip is located within the slag phase at a depth enabling the injected gas to agitate the slag phase, and to react with copper sulphide matte dispersed therein, while precluding a substantial proportion of the gas from contacting the continuous blister copper phase.

Abstract: The invention makes public an anode refinement method for high-sulfur content coarse copper: while high-sulfur coarse copper liquid from flash converting furnace flows to the anode furnace through a chute, inert gas is continuously added, to make the copper liquid boiling and improve discharging of the SO2 produced from reaction of the sulfur with oxygen in the liquid and the oxygen absorbed from atmosphere, so as to remove more than 90% sulfur in the coarse copper liquid. After the coarse copper liquid is fully led to anode furnace, operations of low-oxidization and low-reduction, non-oxidization and low-reduction or cancel of reduction-oxidization is conducted according to sulfur content in the copper liquid. It can resolve the shortages in fire-refining process, save working time, notably improve production efficiency and capacity, save energy, and settle the pollution problem of black smoke on atmospheric environment.

Abstract: The method for smelting copper sulfide concentrate essentially consisting of the steps of: adding SiO2 source material and CaO source material for flux to the copper sulfide concentrate, and subjecting the copper sulfide concentrate to oxidation melting to produce slag and at least one selected from the group of white metal and blister copper, so that at least part of Fe in the copper sulfide concentrate is removed to the slag while at least part of S is removed in the form of SO2, and that copper is concentrated in the form of at least one selected from the group of white metal and blister copper, and wherein the composition of the slag is controlled such that the weight ratio CaO/(SiO2+CaO) is in the ramge of 0.6 to 0.85, while the weight ratio Fe/(FeOx+SiO2+CaO) is in the range of 0.5 to 0.6.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method to produce blister copper or high grade matte in a smelting reactor directly from a sulfidic copper concentrate containing material and/or finely ground copper matte, whereby oxygen-containing gas, copper concentrate and/or finely ground copper matte are fed into the reactor. According to the invention CaO and SiO2 containing flux is fed into the smelting reactor along with oxygen-containing gas, copper concentrate and/or copper matte, and part of the copper in the concentrate and/or in the matte is oxidized in order to form a slag in which the CaO/SiO2 ratio is higher than 1.5, and in which the copper content is in oxidized form, and in which the lime content calculated in a CaO+SiO2+FeOx=100 system is higher than 20%.

Abstract: A method of oxygen-smelting copper sulfide concentrate to obtain white metal, nearly white metal matte or blister copper by removing most of the Fe in the copper sulfide concentrate into the slag as well as removing part or most of the S therein as SO2 wherein oxygen-smelting is carried out to produce; slag in which a weight ratio of CaO to (SiO2+CaO) is 0.3 to 0.6 and a weight ratio of Fe to (FeOx+SiO2+CaO) is 0.2 to 0.5, and white metal, nearly white metal matte or blister copper, by adding SiO2 material and CaO material to the copper sulfide concentrate as flux.

Abstract: The method for smelting copper sulfide concentrate essentially consisting of the steps of: adding SiO2 source material and CaO source material for flux to the copper sulfide concentrate, and subjecting the copper sulfide concentrate to oxidation melting to produce slag and at least one selected from the group of white metal and blister copper, so that at least part of Fe in the copper sulfide concentrate is removed to the slag while at least part of S is removed in the form of SO2, and that copper is concentrated in the form of at least one selected from the group of white metal and blister copper, and wherein the composition of the slag is controlled such that the weight ratio CaO/(SiO2+CaO) is in the ramge of 0.6 to 0.85, while the weight ratio Fe/(FeOx+SiO2+CaO) is in the range of 0.5 to 0.6.

Abstract: In a copper converting furnace, the (i) reduction of copper oxide in and the removal of copper metal from the slag, and (ii) conversion of copper sulfide in and the elimination of mineral waste from the blister copper is enhanced by introducing a gas, e.g. nitrogen, into at least one of the blister copper and slag such that the gas increases the turbulence or mixing at the blister copper/slag interface and promotes a lowering of the sulfur dioxide equilibrium pressure within the blister copper and slag phases. In one embodiment, the gas is introduced into both the molten blister copper and slag through a porous-wall injector.

Abstract: Copper matte is processed to anode copper without oxidizing blister copper in an anode furnace. Copper matte, in either molten or solid form, is fed to a continuous copper converting furnace in which it is converted to blister copper and slag. The blister copper and slag collect in the settler region of the furnace and separate into two phases, a blister copper phase and a slag phase (the latter floating upon the former). The converting furnace is equipped with means for stirring or agitating the interface of the blister copper and slag phases such that the sulfur content of the blister copper phase and the copper content of the slag phase are reduced.

Abstract: Solidified copper matte is used as a coolant to moderate or reduce the temperature of a bath of molten blister copper resident within a continuous, top-blown converter. In one embodiment, the addition of solidified copper matte to a bath of molten blister copper resident within a continuous, top-blown converter increases the throughput of the converter.

Abstract: A process for converting a copper sulphide matte and/or a copper sulphide concentrate to blister copper is described which comprises the steps of adding the matte and/or concentrate together with a suitable flux to an agitated molten bath containing molten slag phase and a molten metal phase; injecting by means of a submerged lance an oxidizing gas capable of reacting with the matte or concentrate to form a low sulphur blister copper phase, slag and sulphur dioxide; controlling the injection of the oxidizing gas such that a substantial portion of the gas contracts the blister copper phase; and separating blister copper from the bath. It is possible to obtain an amount of sulphur in the blister copper which is within a factor of two of the equilibrium value for a given percentage of copper in the slag.

Abstract: An electromagnetic acoustic transducer for generating ultrasound waves in an electrically conducting sample comprises a magnetic element for producing a static magnetic field, and a coil through which brief current pulses are passed to create a dynamic magnetic field, the interaction between the fields and the sample generating ultrasound waves. The current pulses are produced by an input circuit, and their characteristics are arranged so that the frequency content of the ultrasound generated is broadband. Output pulses produced as a result of the input pulses are then also brief (substantially the same duration as the input pulses) so that accurate measurement of the interval between one output pulse and the next is relatively easy. The transducer can therefore be used to measure accurately the thickness of very thin samples, and to detect near surface defects. The generating transducer may also be used for detection of the output pulses, or a similar but separate detecting transducer may be used.

Abstract: Copper and or nickel sulfide ore concentrates of high intrinsic value are oxygen smelted by introducing such concentrates via feeds (32) into a closed loop extraction circuit in which a molten sulphide carrier composition is forcibly circulated by an R-H unit (14) through lower hearth (10) at which feed of the concentrates takes place, and upper hearth (12) at which controlled oxidation with technically pure oxygen through top lances (4) takes place to oxidize copper sulphide and iron sulphide in the concentrate to iron oxide. Copper is removed via line (42). Slag containing iron oxide is discharged via weir (22) into a secondary circuit in hearths (24 and 28). Carbonaceous reductant added to the slag in (28) reduces the iron oxide in the slag to hot iron product.

Abstract: A method for oxidizing treatment of molten matte and at the same time directly smelting sulphidic concentrate in a refractory-lined liquid bath reactor, e.g. a converter, into which oxidizing air is introduced below the surface of the liquid bath. For additional supply of energy in order to achieve thermal balance or increase of capacity, sulphidic concentrate is introduced into the gas phase of the liquid bath reactor together with oxygen gas or oxygen-enriched gas by means of a concentrate burner.

Abstract: A Process for combusting sulfur vapor released from a sulfur bearing material, comprising:(a) introducing a sulfur bearing material into a furnace having a combustion zone;(b) ejecting at least one fuel stream with or without a substoichiometric amount of at least one primary oxidant stream and combusting said at least one fuel stream with the substoichiometric amount of the primary oxidant stream or ambient gas in the combustion zone to produce heat sufficient to release some sulfur vapor from the sulfur bearing material and to form combustion products containing unburned fuel;(c) ejecting at least one secondary oxidant stream angled away or spaced from the fuel stream and primary oxidant stream;(d) causing a recirculating flow within the combustion zone to dilute at least a portion of the combustion products, secondary oxidant, sulfur vapor, unburned fuel and ambient gas in the furnace; and(e) combusting the sulfur vapor and the unburned fuel with said secondary oxidant.

Abstract: A process for converting a copper or nickel matte comprising at least 30% by weight of a copper or nickel based material and a substantial weight amount of an iron based material as one of the impurities to be removed from the matte by oxidation in a converter wherein during a first step of said process substantially all of the iron based material is oxidized with an oxygen comprising gas to make ferrous oxide which is thereafter transformed into slag by addition of a solid material to the molten metal and during a second step of said process, the copper based material is oxidized with said oxygen comprising gas to generate substantially pure copper and residues, said residues being essentially in gaseous form, the oxygen comprising gas being injected through an internal injector of a concentric shrouded tuyere comprising the internal injector and an external injector concentrically disposed around said internal injector with a gas passage therebetween, a shrouding substantially inert gas being injected throu

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for smelting copper which includes a blister copper-producing device. A plurality of anode furnaces are provided for refining the blister copper produced in the blister copper-producing device into copper of higher quality. A blister copper launder assembly, which has a main launder and a plurality of branch launders branched off from the main launder, is provided to connect the converting furnace and the anode furnaces together. A selecting device may be attached to the launder assembly for selectively bringing the main launder into fluid communication with one of the branch launders.

Abstract: A copper smelting process is disclosed in which copper concentrate is smelted in a furnace to produce purified copper. Flue gas discharged from the furnace is treated to produce sulfuric acid. Furthermore, waste liquid discharged during the production of sulfuric acid is treated to produce gypsum, and the gypsum thus produced is recycled to the furnace as a flux. The flue gas may be exhausted from either or both of a smelting furnace and a converting furnace, and the gypsum may be preferably introduced into the converting furnace.

Abstract: The invention provides a converter for purifying molten nonferrous material. A converter body having a refractory lined chamber holds the nonferrous material. A gas injector means pierces a lower portion of the chamber for bottom sparging the nonferrous material. A lance pierces an upper portion of the converter body projecting minimally into the chamber for limited exposure to adverse conditions. While converting with top blowing of gas containing oxygen and bottom stirring solid nonferrous metal may be added to the converter to cool the molten nonferrous material and purified molten nonferrous metal.

Abstract: The present invention is a process to recover precious metals from sulfide ores. It involves chlorinating a mixture of an ore concentrate and salt to form a liquid melt. The salt preferably contains potassium chloride. This chlorination is carried out at a temperature between 300.degree. and 600.degree. C. while stirring. The process converts precious metals in the elemental and sulfide forms into precious metal chlorides which are recovered by subsequent processing steps.

Abstract: Fire-refined blister copper is produced from copper concentrate by a process comprising:A. melting and oxidizing the copper concentrate in a smelting furnace to produce molten matte and slag, and to separate one from the other;B. removing the molten matte from the smelting furnace;C. solidifying the molten matte;D. injecting the solidified matte into a converting furnace in which the matte is converted to blister copper and slag; andE. transfering the blister copper from the converting furnace to an anode furnace to produce fire-refined blister copper.After the fire-refined blister copper is produced in the anode furnace, it is typically transferred to an anode casting wheel on which it is converted to copper anodes suitable for subsequent electrolytic refining to cathode copper.

Abstract: The process for converting a copper sulphide matte to blister copper, is achieved by adding the copper sulphide matte and flux to a suitable agitated slag phase; and injecting, from a discharge tip at the lower end of a top-submerged lance, an oxidizing gas suitable for reacting with the matte to produce blister copper which forms or adds to a continuous blister copper phase below the slag phase. The lance tip is located within the slag phase at a depth enabling the injected gas to agitate the slag phase, and to react with copper sulphide matte dispersed therein, while precluding a substantial proportion of the gas from contacting the continuous blister copper phase.