Gipronickel Institute, Laboratory of Pyrometallurgy

L. B. Tsymbulov, Chief Researcher, e-mail: Lbcym@nickel.spb.ru
S. P. Pigarev, Junior Researcher

Queensland University, Australia
E. Jak, Professor, Pyrometallurgical Research Center

The paper presents a thermodynamic analysis of the continuous converting on copper nickel containing matte and concentrates in a two-zone Vanyukov’s furnace with blister copper production. Thermodynamical analysis has been executed, using FactSage program package. For the oxidizing stage of the process the influence of temperature, fluxing agents consumption, ratio of SiO₂ and СаО containing fluxes on the principle technological indices of the process was studied. It has been determined, that concentration of iron-nickel spinels on the trevorite (NiFe₂O₄) base has been essentially changed due to change of fluxed components consumption in slags. Optimal temperature range of oxidation process stage conduction and optimal consumption of fluxed components have been recommended. Influence of specific consumption of oxygen on oxidation process stage has been shown. Optimal correspondence of SiO₂/CaO in slag has been determined. For the reduction stage there was studied the influence of the coefficient of oxygen consumption blow (“alpha”) on the produced blister copper composition and on metals recovery. Limiting concentration of copper in slag between slag melt of reduction zone and forming copper-nickel melt as a result has been established. Expediency of reduction process stage usage has been shown. Executed researches are fundamental base for realization of further experimental researches. Also they has been used as a base of mathematical model and algorithm of continuous converting process control.

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4. Tsymbulov L. B., Knyazev M. V., Tsemekhman L. Sh., Golov A. N. Proceedings of the sixth international Copper-Cobre Conference, The Carlos Diaz Symposium on Pyrometallurgy. Toronto, Ontario (Canada), Aug. 25–30, 2007. Vol. III (Book 1). pp. 397—409.

5. Patent 2359046 RF. Sposob pererabotki mednykh sulfidnykh materialov na chernovuyu med (Method of copper sulphide materials processing to blister copper). Tsymbulov L. B., Knyazev M. V., Tsemekhman L. Sh. ; published. 09.01.2008.

6. Tsemekhman L. Sh., Tsymbulov L. B., Knyazev M. V., Kaytmazov N. G., Fomichev V. B. Tsvetnye metally - Non-ferrous Metals. 2009. No. 9. pp. 43–48.

7. Tsymbulov L. B., Tsemekhman L. Sh., Knyazev M. V., Fedorov M. S., Galantsev V. N. Tsvetnye metally - Non-ferrous Metals. 2004. No. 12. pp. 36–42.

8. Bale C. W., Bélisle E., Chartrand P. and etc. FactSage thermochemical software and databases — recent developments. Calphad. June 2009. Vol. 33. Issue 2. pp. 295–311.

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11. Tsymbulov L. B., Kolosova E. Yu., Knyazev M. V. Tsvetnye metally - Non-ferrous Metals. 2009. No. 7. pp. 30–36.