Raw Material Handling
Copper concentrate is received by ship at a wharf which can accommodate concentrate ship carrying up to 35,000 tons. A jetty, 2 km in length is constructed to reach water of sufficient depth. A wharf constructed at the head of the jetty. An unloader with a clam shell bucket, coverage capacity 600 t/h, ship loader for slag, and reversible belt conveyors are installed. Unloaded concentrate is delivered to concentrate storage yard (capacity 55,000 tons) after weighing and sampling automatically on the way. Other materials like silica, lime stone and coal are normally received by truck and stored in the flux storage building. Converting furnace slag (C-slag) is also stored in the flux building. Fluxes are then transferred by a belt conveyor to the each flux bin in the smelter and a belt scale weighs the fluxes on the way to the flux bins.
Mitsubishi Continuous Process
PT Smelting applies Mitsubishi technology for copper smelting process. The Mitsubishi process is copper continuous smelting and converting technology using three furnaces. The three furnaces are linked with covered launders, through which all the molten materials are continuously transferred by gravity.
Copper concentrate (Cu:22-29 %, S: 27-32%, Fe: 22-27%) is fed through lance pipe with oxygen enriched air into the smelting furnace then oxidized and melted by exothermic reaction to form molten mixture of matte (Cu: 68%) and slag. The matte is separated from slag by difference of specific gravity in the slag cleaning furnace. The matte is further oxidized to form blister copper (Cu: 98.5%) in the converting furnace.
The Advantage of Mitsubishi Process
High Copper (Cu) Recovery Rate
Low copper content in the discard slag (0.7% Cu).
Less Fugitive Gas Emission
Molten melt transfer through covered launder minimizes source of harmful environmental gas emission and reduces environment expenditures.
Stable & Higher SO2 in Off-gas make efficient Acid plant operation
A compact and simple design acid plant can be applied to convert SO2 in the furnace off-gases to marketable sulphuric acid.
High Efficient and Flexible Operation
High intensity reaction below the furnace lances accelerates feed material melting and has a flexibility in treating wide range and grade of concentrates and secondary materials.
Compact Facilities
Reduction of construction cost through simplified facilities.
Process Description
Utilizing advanced smelting techniques, the process involves subjecting the concentrates to intense heat, separating the copper from impurities, and refining it to meet stringent quality standards.
Smelting Furnace (S-Furnace)
Dried concentrate and flux materials like silica sand are injected into S-furnace through vertical lances and oxidized with oxygen-enriched air to produce molten matte and slag, and their mixture overflows from the S-furnace down to the CL-furnace through launder.
Slag Cleaning Furnace (CL-Furnace)
CL-furnace is heated by two sets of delta type electrode (2320 &1650 KVA). Matte is separated from slag by difference of specific gravity. Slag is overflowed, water-granulated and sold to cement industry while molten matte (Cu 68%) is constantly siphoned out and transferred to the C-furnace through launder.
Converting Furnace (C-Furnace)
Matte, flux, and slag limestone) are reacted with oxygen-enriched air to form blister copper and then separated from the slag by difference of specific gravity. Slag (Cu 13%) is returned to S-furnace, and blister copper is siphoned out and forwarded to Anode furnaces.
Anode Furnace
Blister copper from C-furnace is delivered into one of Anode furnaces by using switching launder system. In this furnace, oxidation and reduction reactions are occurred to produce refined copper ready for casting.
Casting Wheel
Casting wheel is a method of copper anode casting which performed by pouring molten copper onto molds located on horizontal turning wheel.
Casting wheel is the most popular method of anode copper casting with almost all copper smelter in the world utilizes this method. Machine with proven capability and many users will have more availability for technical support and knowledge sharing.