A kinetic model of the peirce-smith converter: Part I. Model formulation and validation
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INTRODUCTION
AS part of an overall project aimed at improving the understanding of the Peirce–Smith converter operation, a mathematical model has been developed. The model was designed to follow the converting process using a combination of kinetic and thermodynamic calculations. Previous work has shown that the oxygen efficiency of the converter is significantly less than 100 pct and varies throughout the operation,[1] so the inclusion of kinetics is required. The model consists of two distinct sections relating to the overall heat and mass balance calculations and the gas flow through the bath. This article considers the development of the heat and mass balance section of the model and the validation of the overall model. The gas flow model is dealt with elsewhere.[2] II.
PREVIOUS WORK
A. Converter Modeling Most models relating to the copper converter deal with the distribution of impurities between matte, metal, and slag. Three models attempt to reproduce the overall material balances and, of these, only one attempts to reproduce the heat balance as well. A recent model of the nickel converter reproduces both the material and heat balances. All of these rely on the assumption that the converter is in thermodynamic equilibrium. A model of the copper converter, developed by Goto, has been gradually improved over the last 15 years, most recently being applied to the copper flash smelter.[3–7] The base model assumed that the converter is in thermodynamic equilibrium. This allowed the bath composition to be calculated from a set of simultaneous equations based on the equilibrium equations and the mass balance.[3] A heat balance was added later to complete the representation of the entire converter.[4] It was claimed that the model was able
A.K. KYLLO, formerly Graduate Student, the University of British Columbia, is Research Fellow, G.K. Williams Cooperative Research Centre for Extractive Metallurgy, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia 3052. G.G. RICHARDS, formerly Associate Professor, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z4 is Senior Research Scientist, Cominco Metals, Trail, BC, Canada V1R 4L8. Manuscript submitted January 6, 1997.
METALLURGICAL AND MATERIALS TRANSACTIONS B
to predict temperature variations fairly well,[4] but no direct comparison with plant data was published, and no comparison of matte or slag composition was given. More recent developments of the model have included its extension by Shimpo et al. to cover the copper flash furnace[5] and the addition of a calculation of oxygen consumption using kinetic considerations.[6] A model of the heat and mass balances in the nickel converter has recently been produced by the authors.[8,9] It is based on the work of Goto and coworkers and has been found to be able to predict both the bath temperature and composition fairly accurately. A model of the Noranda continuous converting process has been developed by Nagamori and co-workers, which concentrates primarily on the minor element behavior.[10–14] This m
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