Norilsk Nickel, Norilsk, Russia:

L. V. Krupnov, Deputy Head of the Technical Office – Chief Metallurgist1, Candidate of Technical Sciences, e-mail: krupnovlv@nornik.ru

Gipronikel Institute LLC, Saint Petersburg, Russia:
R. A. Pakhomov, Senior Researcher at the Pyrometallurgy Laboratory of the R&D Department2, Candidate of Technical Sciences, e-mail: PakhomovRA@nornik.ru

Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Saint Petersburg, Russia:
R. V. Starykh, Associate Professor, Candidate of Technical Sciences, e-mail: kafedra-cm@yandex.ru
V. A. Talalov, Associate Professor, Candidate of Technical Sciences, e-mail: vtalalov@phmf.spbstu.ru

A poorer quality of the raw materials that go in the flash smelter operated by Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant, as well as the use of man-made deposits and fine ore concentrates with high concentrations of particles smaller than 10 μm, leads to a higher amount of entrained dust. Dust entrained by the gas flow leads to the formation of accretion in the slag end, uptake shaft and waste heat boiler. A higher dust entrainment is associated with higher loads on the gas duct, higher material turnover, decreased performance and recovery of non-ferrous metals. Fitting the furnace crown with a shield avoiding any major changes to the furnace design or the smelting process helps change the dynamics of the gas flow and lower dust entrainment. This paper defines the optimum location and dimensions of such shield. Depending on the particle size and the density of the gas-dust flow, with the shield installed, the estimated reduction in the amount of dust getting in the dust treatment system may reach 20%. 

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