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US 4,470,845 AGranted
Continuous process for copper smelting and converting in a single furnace by oxygen injection
AssigneeNewmont Mining Corporation
InventorJohn C. Yannopoulos
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process and apparatus for continuous copper smelting, slag conversion, and production of blister copper in the same furnace by enriched oxygen containing gas injection.
Claims22
A process for continuous production of metals, from sulfur-containing compounds, in a furnace consisting essentially of three zones, said process comprising the steps of:
- a. feeding a metal concentrate containing sulfur, flux therefor and oxygen enriched gas, under sulfur burning conditions, into a first zone of a furnace for obtaining a molten slag and a molten metal matte, said first zone having a slag removal zone and a partition zone whereby a formed slag layer is confined within said first zone by said partition zone, but said metal matte is advanced to a second zone which zone is, with respect to said metal matte in said first zone, intercommunicating therewith;
- b. recovering a SO.sub.2 rich gas from said first zone;
- c. injecting enriched oxygen containing gas or flux through a plurality of introduction zones into said second zone for converting sulfur and iron in said metal matte further into SO.sub.2 and oxides of iron, and for converting other impurities associated with said metal matte into removable products removable from said metal sought to be obtained, said second zone being separated from said third zone by a partition zone interconnected with a third zone with respect to the metal product formed in said second zone but without intermixing of a slag layer formed in said second zone or a slag layer formed in said third zone;
- d. recovering gaseous products rich in SO.sub.2 gas from said second zone;
- e. further injecting oxygen-containing gas into said third furnace zone for further refining the metal advanced from said second furnace zone, and forming a slag layer of said metal being refined;
- f. collecting effluent gas from said third furnace zone;
- g. collecting slag from said third furnace zone, and
- h. removing a metal thus refined from said furnace zone.
5 more elements
A furnace apparatus for continuous smelting and converting of metal concentrates containing sulfur into a more refined metal product and for recovery of SO.sub.2 rich gases, said apparatus comprising
- a furnace chamber of side walls, end walls, bottom and roof, and further of a first, a second and a third furnace section within said chamber, and oxygen-rich gas and concentrate introduction means for said first furnace section;
- a slag removal means and a gas removal means for said first furnace section;
- a first partition between said first and second furnace sections, said first partition comprising of a plurality of individual members with coolant passages in each and movable with respect to each other;
- means for positioning said movable members for adjustment of space between a bottom of said furnace chamber and bottom of each of said movable members;
- enriched oxygen-containing gas introduction means for said second furnace section;
- flux introduction means for said second furnace section;
- slag removal means for said second furnace section;
- gas removal means for said second furnace section;
- a second partition between said second and third furnace sections, said second partition comprised of a plurality of movable members with coolant passages in each and positionable with respect to each other for adjustment of space with respect to said bottom of said furnace chamber, said second partition defining said third furnace section with an end wall of said furnace chamber;
- enriched oxygen-containing gas introduction means for said third furnace section;
- slag removal means for said third furnace section;
- a metal removal means for said third furnace section, and
- means for removing gas from said third furnace section.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.