US 4,732,368 AGranted

Apparatus for the pyrometallurgical treatment of finely divided materials

AssigneeSt. Joe Minerals Corporation

InventorsJohn F. Pusateri, Thomas E. Kidd

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Abstract

Process and apparatus for pyrometallurgically treating finely divided ores, concentrates, residues, slags and like materials. The process utilizes a reactor having two co-axially extending, vertical reaction chambers. The process comprises forming within the upper chamber of the reactor hot fuel-rich reaction gases; passing the hot fuel-rich reaction gases by dump flow into a second vertically extending chamber; introducing into the second chamber the finely divided materials to be treated; and reacting the finely divided materials with the hot fuel-rich reaction gases. The dump flow of hot fuel-rich reaction gases passing into the second chamber is produced by providing a zone of sudden expansion in the flow passage between the first and second chambers.

Claims6

Dependent claims

Reactor apparatus for use in the pyrometallurgical treatment of finely divided material, said apparatus comprising:

a vertically-extending cylindrical structure having first and second stages in series, said first stage having a turbulent mixing section feeding a dump section, the output from said dump section feeding said second stage, with the latter having an output for treated material, said first and second stages being dimensioned to create dump flow therebetween;
means coupled to said first stage for introducing therein a fuel-containing substance and an oxidizing gas to produce substantially within said first stage a hot fuel-rich reaction mixture for treating said material;
and
means for introducing said material to be treated into said second stage for reaction with said hot fuel-rich reaction mixture to yield treated material that exits from the output of said second stage.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.