The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 01, 1977
Filed:
Jun. 17, 1975
Nickolas John Themelis, Beaconsfield, CA;
George Clement McKerrow, Noranda, CA;
Noranda Mines Limited, Pointe Claire, CA;
Abstract
An apparatus for the continuous smelting and converting of copper containing concentrates to copper or matte involves charging concentrates into a reactor which is maintained at a temperature at which a molten bath of slag, matte and metallic copper is formed. An oxidizing gas is injected into the molten bath and the charge of the concentrates is controlled in balanced relationship to an injection control rate of the gas such that the gas is sufficient to oxidize substantially all significant iron and sulphur in the concentrate so that smelting and converting is effected in the same zone of the reactor. The injection of the gas is such as to maintain a turbulent state of the molten bath and produce metallic copper. Slag and metallic copper are withdrawn from the reactor. The apparatus used for carrying out the process embodies a charging port, injection means, a copper settling area and a sump in the base thereof. Control means are provided for the oxidizing gas and means are also provided to control the introduction of concentrates through the charging port. Interlocking control means are adapted to control the introduction of oxidizing gas and the introduction of concentrates in a desired balanced relationship. The exhaust means for removing the off-gases from the reactor is provided substantially outside of the single smelting and converting zone.