Noranda Mines Limited

Hydro-quebec

William H Gauvin

George R Kubanek

A process for high temperature treatment of feed material rising a plasma reactor. Feed material is conveyed by a carrier gas at a pressure such that it is fed against a sleeve which is mounted on top of the crucible that is equipped with the plasma arc.

Transferred-arc plasma reactor for chemical and metallurgical

A transferred-arc plasma reactor is disclosed. The reactor comprises a bottom portion defining a crucible for collecting molten material, an anode adapted to contact the molten material in the crucible, a sleeve mounted on top of the crucible and electrically insulated therefrom, a cathode assembly including a cathode mounted on top of the sleeve and electrically insulated therefrom, means for introducing feed material conveyed by a carrier gas near the top of the sleeve so that the material is fed against the inner wall of the sleeve, melted under the heating energy radiated by a plasma arc formed between the cathode and the molten material to form a falling film of molten material which flows down along the inner wall of the sleeve and drops into the crucible underneath, and outlet ports in the bottom portion of the reactor for exiting the carrier gas and the non-reacted plasma forming gas.

A process and a system for drying a solution, a slurry or a solid suspension of a material non-sensitive to heat is disclosed. A spray of finely divided particles is formed in a chamber and a plasma of superheated steam is used as the heat source for drying the particles as they pass through the chamber. The resulting product is removed from the chamber in the form of a suspension of dry particles in superheated steam.

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Beaconsfield, Canada

William H Gauvin