Version 1
: Received: 22 October 2024 / Approved: 23 October 2024 / Online: 23 October 2024 (16:33:18 CEST)
How to cite:
Shishin, D.; Tripathi, N.; Sineva, S.; Jak, E. Thermodynamic Modelling and Research for Processing of Complex Concentrate Blends in Custom Copper Smelters at Maximum Revenue. Preprints2024, 2024101830. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.1830.v1
Shishin, D.; Tripathi, N.; Sineva, S.; Jak, E. Thermodynamic Modelling and Research for Processing of Complex Concentrate Blends in Custom Copper Smelters at Maximum Revenue. Preprints 2024, 2024101830. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.1830.v1
Shishin, D.; Tripathi, N.; Sineva, S.; Jak, E. Thermodynamic Modelling and Research for Processing of Complex Concentrate Blends in Custom Copper Smelters at Maximum Revenue. Preprints2024, 2024101830. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.1830.v1
APA Style
Shishin, D., Tripathi, N., Sineva, S., & Jak, E. (2024). Thermodynamic Modelling and Research for Processing of Complex Concentrate Blends in Custom Copper Smelters at Maximum Revenue. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.1830.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Shishin, D., Svetlana Sineva and Evgueni Jak. 2024 "Thermodynamic Modelling and Research for Processing of Complex Concentrate Blends in Custom Copper Smelters at Maximum Revenue" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.1830.v1
Abstract
Custom copper smelters, dependent on purchased concentrates, face increasing economic pressures amid falling treatment and refining fees. With declining availability of high-grade, low-impurity concentrates, copper demand is expected to surge to support the transition to renewable energy. This study, based on recent observations of Chinese custom smelters, examines their strategies to address the challenge of purchasing concentrates at record-low treatment and refining charges. By investing in slag flotation technology, smelters can enhance copper, gold and silver recoveries. Through blending of high-grade and low-grade concentrates they can capitalize on the gap between the recoverable and payable metals, which is often referred to as “free metals”, while also benefiting from by-products, mainly sulfuric acid. While this approach offers economic opportunities, it introduces operational complexities. To mitigate these, laboratory testing combined with advanced digital predictive tools based on thermodynamics is crucial. This study demonstrates the use of thermodynamic models supported by experimental work for analyzing furnace operations. FactSage® software and a custom database are employed to define the operating window of two common flowsheets: 1) Flash Smelting + Flash Converting and 2) Bottom-Blown Smelting + Bottom Blowing Converting.
Keywords
Custom copper smelter; Blending of concentrate; Thermodynamic modelling; FactSage
Subject
Engineering, Metallurgy and Metallurgical Engineering
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
