Thermodynamic analysis of nickel smelting process

Abstract

A computer model has been developed to simulate the nickel smelting process. The primary assumption of the model is that six phases in the nickel smelting furnace are in chemical equilibrium. The amounts of all components in matte, slag and gaseous phases under equilibrium are calculated by using the data of free energies of formation and activity coefficients of components. Two nickel sulfide species are used to allow for the modeling of sulfur-deficient mattes. The predictions by the present computer model are compared with the known data from Kalgoorlie nickel flash smelting. The agreements between the computer predictions and the known data are excellent, so that the present computer model can be used to monitor and optimize the actual industrial operations of nickel smelting process. The distribution behaviors of Ni, Co, Cu, Fe, S and O in the nickel smelting furnace are basically dependent on the process factors such as smelting temperature, volumes of air, and the element content.