Outokumpu Engineering Contractors Oy

Iikka Kojo

Risto Saarinen

Pekka Hanniala

Erkki Krogerus

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the suspension smelting of suifidic, finely divided raw materials containing metals, such as copper, nickel and lead, by using oxygen enrichment. In this method into the suspension smelting furnace (1) there is fed the raw material (4,5) to be smelted together with flux (6) and oxidizing gas (7) and the walls (18) of the reaction space of the suspension smelting furnace are cooled and at least two molten phases created (16,17). According to the invention the degree of oxygen enrichment of the oxidizing gas is at least 40% in order to raise the temperature of the particles in suspension to at least 200.degree. C. higher than the temperature of the gas phase of the suspension, in order to improve the reaction kinetics of the reactions taking place in the reaction space, and that the thickness of the reaction space wall lining is adjusted, according to the production quantity of the suspension smelting furnace, by means of cooling elements (20) manufactured by draw casting and installed in the wall of the reaction space.

Growing community of inventors

Kirkkonummi, Finland

Iikka Kojo