Abstract
CITATION: Chibwe, D. K., et al. 2015. Sonic injection into a PGM Peirce-Smith converter : CFD modelling and industrial trials. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 115(5):349-354.
Highlights
Despite lengthy operational experience, understanding of the mode and principle of Peirce-Smith converter (PSC) operation has not changed significantly
Small versions of copper-nickel PSCs are used in platinum group metals (PGMs) smelters for removing Fe and S chemically associated with Cu-Ni mattes rich in PGMs
The modelling results provided a basis for further development of sonic injection into relatively small industrial PSCs, with the ultimate objective of reducing energy consumption, improving process efficiency, and increasing the throughput of the converting process
Summary
Despite lengthy operational experience, understanding of the mode and principle of Peirce-Smith converter (PSC) operation has not changed significantly. Key process aspects needed to be evaluated, amongst them slopping, splashing and mixing characteristics, refractory integrity, and the possible extent of air penetration into the bath in these relatively small converters with shallow tuyere submergence. Characterization of the dynamics of the three-phase (air, matte, and slag) flow in the PSC used at Lonmin was conducted at high air pressure injection achieving sonic velocity at the tuyere tip by using CFD simulations.
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