An overview of PGM Smelting in Zimbabwe Ã¢Â€Â“ Zimplats ... - saimm

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9(NiO) + 7FeS = 3Ni3S2 + 7FeO + SO2The compounds Ni3S2, Cu2S, FeS, and minor levels of cobalt make up furnacematte, together with PGMs and other precious metals (gold) which do notparticipate in furnace chemical reactions.Slag formation is basically considered to be:2(FeO) + SiO2 = 2FeO.SiO2Other oxides in the concentrate (Al2O3, MgO, etc.) report to the slag.Furnace off-gasNo fuel is burnt in the furnace, hence the volume of waste gas and the quantityof flue dust is small. The off-gas contains mainly sulphur oxides, and carbonoxides (from electrodes). The off-gas is sucked to the electrostatic precipitator.Modifications carried out on the furnace since Zimplats took over theoperations• The slag / concentrate interface brickwork (9 courses) was observed tobe severely hydrated. The nine rows of bricks were replaced with somemag-chrome bricks, and inspections to date show that the brickwork isstill in good condition.• During the process of replacing the nine courses of mag-chromebrickwork, the furnace walls were taken down from the top to the lowestcourse to be replaced. This was made possible after lifting the furnaceroof and holding it in a position that enabled removal of the bricks. Roofintegrity was maintained by lifting (jacking) the ring beam evenly.• Feed from the electrostatic precipitator was previously routed back to thedryer bins. This was re-routed to feed the furnace.• There was a move away from pneumatically feeding reverts back intothe furnace, to the use of a simpler manual mechanical system.• The whole furnace cooling circuit was renewed, and the pipe renewalwas done with the furnace on line in 2003.• The matte taphole copper blocks were modified on the bottom section(cold face); the cooling pipe was withdrawn and the cold face front waswaffled to enable refractory packing. This design would prevent thecopper block from being cut by molten matte in the case of a matte runoutthrough the taphole or a face-plate failure.• There has been a move away from water-cooled cooper face-plate to caststeel face-plate.CONVERTERSZimplats has two 10’ x 15’ Peirce-Smith converters with 22 tuyeres (18 in use),which are utilised to produce converter matte of 0.6% Fe from furnace mattecontaining 42% Fe and 31% S. The converters are operated in a batch cycle(every 48 hours) and only one converter is operated at a time.70
Operational practiceThe furnace matte is charged, and, during blowing, silica/quartz sized at 5-15 mm is charged at regular intervals. Ladle dregs/reverts are charged into theconverter at regular intervals to control the temperature of the converter, andalso to boost production from ladle cleanings. Silica is charged through feedpipes to flux the FeO, and the converter slag is skimmed at regular intervals.The converter slag is returned to the furnace. Typical operating temperatureranges between 1100ºC and 1250ºC, and temperature monitoring is through asingle hood-mounted optical pyrometer per converter. Blower air, averaging8 500 Nm 3 /h at 128 kPa, is blown into the converter through the tuyeres. Localcontrol of the converter is by means of a SCADA system.The main reactions in the converting stage are oxidation of iron (II) sulphide,and slagging of iron (II) oxide by added silica/quartz flux.2FeS + 3O2 = 2FeO + 2SO2 (melting point of FeO is 1385 º C)2FeO + SiO2 = Fe2SiO4Formation of magnetite occurs near the tuyeres:3FeS + 5O2 = Fe3O4 + 3SO2 (melting point of Fe3O4 is 1597 º C)Oxygen reacts exothermically with iron sulphide, and hence supplies energy forthe converter. The temperature in the converter is controlled through theaddition of silica and cold reverts. There is no oxygen enrichment in theconverter process at Zimplats. Converter operations are complete at iron levelsof 0.6 – 0.7% Fe.Converter tuyeres are kept clear of solid build-up by utilising a mechanicaltuyere puncher. The tuyere puncher is a rail-mounted carriage on which adouble-acting air cylinder is installed. The cylinder drives up to three punchbars into the tuyeres by means of guided yokes. The carriage moves along thetuyere line to punch successive tuyeres. The punching machine design alsomakes provision for mounting a drill for drilling the tuyere line of a newlyrelined converter.At the end of each batch cycle, after skimming of all the slag, the convertermatte is poured into a converter matte ladle. The converter matte is taken formatte granulation at the matte granulation platform. The matte is then pouredonto a refractory-lined granulation spoon resting on a hydraulic platform. Thespoon includes a refractory bridge just ahead of the pouring lip, designed tohold back any contaminating converter slag in the matte. Converter matte isdischarged over the spoon lip into a finely distributed stream of granulationwater. The granulated matte discharges directly into a steep-sided conicalbottomedtank.71
Page 2 and 3: Construction of the Smelter commenc
Page 4 and 5: • Storage silos (150 t and 350 t)
Page 6 and 7: 68• Electrode seals• New feed-p
Page 10 and 11: The original granulated matte pumpi
Page 12: 4. Review of SMC, Concentrator and

An overview of PGM Smelting in Zimbabwe Ã¢Â€Â“ Zimplats ... - saimm

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