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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Albert Wraith
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The tuyère flow rates of Peirce-Smith converters and bath smelting reactors are rendered particularly sensitive to accretion formation, bath depth variations and the general aerodynamic design of the blast delivery system by the limited pressure-flow properties of the conventional single stage centrifugal blower. This sensitivity is examined in terms of tuyère practice, vessel management and fixed engineering parameters for Peirce-Smith converters and the Noranda Reactor by use of the flow resistance factor, R*. New understanding of the effect of accretion growth on the flow behaviour of individual tuyères shows that blowing rates and hence throughputs could be optimised by careful attention to operating detail even within present plant constraints. The concept of the resistance vector is introduced to elucidate comparisons between different practices and to provide reference standards for optimisation. On this basis, the benefits of introducing quite moderate changes in the pressure-flow properties of the blast delivery system are considered. In view of recent developments in the flexible use of converters as hybrid bath smelting vessels for matte production, the foundation is now laid for a searching consideration of relationships between vessel volume and shape, blowing requirements, tuyère performance and production rates, the detail of which will be examined more appropriately in a forthcoming paper.
Author(s): Wraith AE, Mackey PJ, Levac CA, Element P
Publication type: Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)
Publication status: Published
Conference Name: 4th International Conference COPPER 99 / COBRE 99
Year of Conference: 1999
Number of Volumes: 6
Pages: 67-82
Publisher: TMS
Library holdings: Search Newcastle University Library for this item
Sponsor(s): The Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration
ISBN: 0873394402
