Applications of thermodynamic modeling in copper converting operations

Abstract

Abstract A thermodynamic model of the copper P-S converter has been developed to predict the behavior of magnetite in the converter slag, amounts of slag and matte, compositions of slag and matte, volume of the bath, bath temperature, slag blow endpoint determination and SEMTECH OPC signals. The predictions of bath temperature, slag and matte compositions, and magnetite content in the slag have been validated by industrial data. The effects of fluxing strategy, returns and skim charges, oxygen enrichment, and temperature on the magnetite formation in the slag have been predicted and discussed. The effect of oxygen potential, SiO2/Fe in slag, detection of slag blow endpoint, and temperature on slag viscosity, liquidus temperature of converter slag and skimming operation has been modeled and discussed as well. Some applications to industrial operations have been presented.