Thermodynamic Study on Process in Copper Converters(The slag-making stage)

The so-called Goto's model was modified by introducing a parameter of the oxygen efficiency from industrial trials, as well as the selected and newly re-assessed thermodynamic data. The application of the model to copper converters in Guixi Smelter has been carried out by the combination of thermodynamic calculations with the mass and heat balance using the plant data obtained in industrial trials for many heats. For the slag-making stage, good agreements have been reached betWeen the calculated and measured temperature, blowing time as well as the contents for main elements in the matte and the slag. Relativel}'' large deviations for contents of Zn and Pb in the slag may be caused by the complex chemical composition of the real molten slag, which ma}; result in a large difference of γzn. and γPb,adopted with their real values. It is noted that the model can simulate the slag-making stage of copper converting process in industrial Pierce-Smith converters well.

Thermodynamic Study on Process in Copper Converters (The Copper-making Stage)

Theoretical calculations were based on thermodynamic equilibrium in the multi-component and multi-phase system with heat and mass balance as well as the oxygen efficiency to take account for the effects of process kinetics. The variations of temperature, mass fractions of dissolved oxygen and sulfur in blister copper, partial pressures for O2, S2, SO2 in gas phase for the copper-making stage were calculated. The model predicted temperature, time of blowing as well as mass of the blister copper at end points for 6 heats showed a fairly good agreements with corresponding plant data. The calculated content of 0.065% and content of 0.87% in blister copper were both at reasonable levels. Compared with the so called Goto model, the present model has very much improved process description of copper-making stage as well as the prediction of end points for a copper converter by introducing the oxygen efficiency.

Intelligent decision support system of operation-optimization in copper smelting converter

An artificial intelligence technique was applied to the optimization of flux adding systems and air blasting systems, the display of on line parameters, forecasting of mass and compositions of slag in the slagging period, optimization of cold material adding systems and air blasting systems, the display of on line parameters, and the forecasting of copper mass in the copper blow period in copper smelting converters. They were integrated to build the Intelligent Decision Support System of the Operation Optimization of Copper Smelting Converter(IDSSOOCSC), which is self learning and self adaptating. Development steps, monoblock structure and basic functions of the IDSSOOCSC were introduced. After it was applied in a copper smelting converter, every production quota was clearly improved after IDSSOOCSC had been run for 4 months. Blister copper productivity is increased by 6%, processing load of cold input is increased by 8% and average converter life span is improved from 213 to 235 furnace times.

Hydrophobic-surface of copper from converter slag in the flotation system

The converter slag from a smeltery in Daye contains 2.01% copper.The floatability of copper has a significant influence on the flotation of converter slag.Flotation tests,contact angle tests and FTIR were conducted to assess the influences of pH and different flotation concentrators on its hydrophobic process,mechanism and flotation.The results show that since chemisorptions are formed on the surface,hydrophobicity of copper is highly enhanced by xanthate,butylamine dithiophosphate and Z-200.The hydrophobic-surface of copper becomes worse with low recovery in strong acid and alkali situation.When pH value is 10,butylamine dithiophosphate and butyl xanthate are used as the mixed-collector,the grade of copper is 40.01%and that of tailings is 0.37%.

Experimental study on upward bubble velocity and pierce length distributions in a water model of copper converter

The upward bubble velocity and the pierce length distributions in a sectionalwater model of the copper converter in Guixi Smelter in Jiangxi, China, were measured using atwo-contact electro-resistivity probe. In the case of using a single tuyere, the bubble velocitydistribution along longitudinal direction was similar to that derived from Guassian function. Beyondthe center of the longitudinal range, the bubble pierce length exhibited a sudden increase. Theupward bubble velocity at a specified location could go up to meters per second. Its probability ata fixed location obeys a lognormal function; the bubble pierce length there varies bellow a fewcentimeters. In the case of using multi-tuyeres, the upward bubble velocity was roughly uniformright above the tuyeres and showed a slow decrease beyond this region. The bubble pierce lengthwithin both of these two regions was roughly uniform. Its average value in the former region,however, was found to he somewhat lower than that in the later.