2017-Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit
SIPS 2017 Volume 1. Barrios Intl. Symp. / Non-ferrous Smelting & Hydro/Electrochemical Processing
| Editors: | Kongoli F, Palacios M, Buenger T, Meza JH, Delgado E, Joudrie MC, Gonzales T, Treand N |
| Publisher: | Flogen Star OUTREACH |
| Publication Year: | 2017 |
| Pages: | 264 pages |
| ISBN: | 978-1-987820-61-4 |
| ISSN: | 2291-1227 (Metals and Materials Processing in a Clean Environment Series) |
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Distribution Air Improvements at Rio Tinto Kennecott Copper
Bijan Shahriari1; Michael Loveless2; Maciej Jastrzebski1; Kenly Ochoa3; Adam Blackmore1; Ryan Wilde3; Ivan Marincic1; Stephanie Gangl1; Melvin Pong1; Thomas Gonzales4; Volodymyr Ponomar1; Rafik Chekiri5; Philippe Lavoie5; Dustin Vickress1;1HATCH, Mississauga, Canada; 2RIO TINTO KENNECOTT COPPER, South Jordan, United States; 3RIO TINTO KENNECOTT, South Jordan, United States; 4HATCH ASSOCIATES, Scottsdale, United States; 5UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO INSTITUTE FOR AEROSPACE STUDIES, Toronto, Canada;
Type of Paper: Regular
Id Paper: 288
Topic: 6
Abstract:
In flash smelting and converting, burner performance depends on achieving a uniform spatial distribution of feed, and an optimal distribution of particles of different size in the feed plume. Matte and concentrate burners typically achieve this by using feed distribution air, which is introduced radially through nozzles located at the burner lance tip. Conventional distribution air nozzles comprise several cylindrical holes drilled in the outer circumference of the central jet distributor. Conventional nozzles, particularly those in flash converters and direct-to-blister furnaces, are prone to clogging by built-up accretions. This can degrade burner combustion performance over time, by introducing asymmetries to the plume and particle distribution. Due to excess clogging, these nozzles may need to be frequently cleaned, which leads to frequent furnace downtime. Recently, Hatch and Rio Tinto Kennecott Copper (RTKC) have conducted trials of new proprietary distribution air nozzle designs. Two of the nozzle designs have shown a three-fold improvement in cleaning related downtime, and a 2–3.5% reduction in oxygen requirements per ton of smelted matte. Initial observations also indicate easier to remove reaction shaft accretions using one of the nozzles. A third distribution air nozzle is scheduled to undergo testing soon, at the time of writing. The new nozzle designs represent an inexpensive, low-risk means for improving the combustion performance and maintenance requirements of flash furnaces, leading to substantial economic performance improvements.
Keywords:
Flash; Furnace; Smelting; Converting; Supersonic; Distribution; Dispersion; Air; Micro-jet; Accretion; Maintenance; Cleaning; Combustion; Efficiency; Oxygen; Plume; Distributor; Disperser; Nozzle; Burner; Copper; Development; Non-ferrous; Pressure; TechnologyReferences:
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