Melting furnace for recovering copper from a copper-containing starting material
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-02-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-13
Smart Images
Figure EP2026052731_13082026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Melting furnace for recovering copper from copper-containing raw material
[0002] Description
[0003] The application concerns a metallurgical smelting furnace for the recovery of copper from copper-containing feedstock.
[0004] In the prior art, copper is recovered from copper-containing raw or starting material in such a melting furnace, essentially by pyrometallurgical smelting and refining of the melt. Scrap, i.e., scrap fragments preferably in solid form, is fed into the furnace as starting material and then melted. The scrap is typically fed in several stages, after which the most recently added scrap is melted in the surrounding melt; for example, at temperatures between 1100 and 1400°C, preferably between 1200 and 1300°C. Through recycling, copper with a purity of over 92%, particularly over 94%, preferably 99.9% by weight, can be recovered.
[0005] In the refining process step, the copper is subsequently freed from foreign substances as much as possible, which are carried away in gaseous form with exhaust gases or bound in the slag floating on the liquid metal and removed with it.
[0006] The melting furnace is therefore a hearth furnace that uses flames generated by burners to produce heat, which are directed into the interior of the furnace (reverberatory furnace).
[0007] Page 1The smelting furnace is usually designed as a tilting refining furnace, which can be tilted or rotated around its horizontal longitudinal central axis or another longitudinal axis, for example to remove the copper and / or slag from the furnace.
[0008] The tilting furnace or tiltable melting furnace usually extends in a horizontal direction between a first and a second end wall, between which the furnace wall extends in the form of a circumferential, for example approximately circular cylindrical or elliptical or rectangular circumferential wall.
[0009] While heating burners are mounted on the first end wall, which introduce a flame through the first end wall into the furnace chamber, an exhaust outlet for exhaust gases to be discharged can be provided on or near the opposite second end wall.
[0010] From a process engineering perspective, the furnace is a refining furnace, which, for example, oxidizes and then reduces scrap metal to separate the copper bound in the scrap from the accompanying materials. The flames are often introduced along a longitudinal direction between the two end walls, i.e., from the first end wall approximately towards the opposite second end wall.
[0011] In addition to the actual fuel, i.e., energy carriers such as natural gas or oil, etc., the heating burners can also introduce, for example, air, such as cold air, pure oxygen or oxygen-enriched air or cold air or their reaction products into the furnace chamber to generate flames.
[0012] CN 1 09022799 B describes a furnace for treating anode sludge. The furnace has a furnace chamber rotatable about a longitudinally extending axis, the furnace wall of which has two opposing end walls and a circumferential wall arranged between them. At a first end wall
[0013] On side 2 is a heating burner in which a fuel gas is burned with the supply of pure oxygen.
[0014] CN 201 908 122 U describes a melting furnace for reprocessing copper from copper-containing feedstock. The furnace has a furnace chamber whose wall features an end wall located at one end of a circumferential wall. A heating burner is provided at a distance from the end wall. The heating burner comprises a first supply line for fuel gas and a second supply line for pure oxygen. Via a longer pipe that crosses the center of the end wall, the heating burner discharges the fluid mixture of these gases and their combustion products into the atmosphere located in the furnace chamber above a copper-containing feedstock or a melt. The furnace is designed as a rotatable furnace, the furnace chamber of which can rotate about a longitudinally oriented axis.
[0015] The purpose of this application is to further increase the efficiency and / or effectiveness of such a melting furnace of this type.
[0016] This problem is solved by the melting furnace according to claim 1.
[0017] According to the invention, a metallurgical melting furnace is provided for the recovery of copper from copper-containing starting material by pyrometallurgical melting and refining of a melt, which has at least the following features:
[0018] - a furnace chamber with a furnace wall comprising a first end wall, an opposing second end wall and a circumferential wall running between them,
[0019] - an exhaust outlet for removing exhaust gases from the furnace chamber, wherein the exhaust outlet
[0020] Page 3 - in the second end wall and / or
[0021] - in an upper area of the circumferential wall at and / or near the second end wall
[0022] is arranged, and
[0023] - a heating device for heating the copper-containing starting material, a melt and / or an atmosphere above it,
[0024] - wherein the furnace chamber is tiltable and / or rotatable about an axis extending in a longitudinal direction, and
[0025] - wherein the heating device is formed from a plurality of heating burners arranged distributed over the furnace wall for burning fluid fuels to introduce heat into the furnace chamber, and comprises a first arrangement and / or number of end-facing first heating burners arranged on or in the first end wall.
[0026] According to the invention, at least one second heating burner is provided, which is arranged on or in the circumferential wall, preferably in its ceiling area, wherein the second heating burner is arranged closer to the second end wall than to the first end wall.
[0027] The second heating burner can in particular be arranged off-center, i.e. asymmetrically with respect to the central plane between the two end walls, and according to the invention be displaced and / or offset in the direction towards the second end wall.
[0028] For example, the second heating burner can be located at a distance from the second end wall and / or extend to a distance between 45% and 10% of the distance between the two end walls. In particular, the at least one second heating burner can be located further away from the second end wall than the exhaust outlet is from the second end wall.
[0029] Page 4 If the exhaust gas outlet is located in the perimeter wall or in its ceiling area near the second end wall, this proximity to the second end wall is understood in particular to mean that the exhaust gas outlet
[0030] - is located at a distance from the second end wall that is no more than 10% of the distance between the two end walls.
[0031] The second heating burner is located further away from the second end wall than the exhaust outlet. Therefore, the second heating burner is situated between the exhaust outlet and the first end wall.
[0032] Furthermore, the furnace chamber of the melting furnace can be tilted and / or rotated about a longitudinally running axis. This refers to a furnace chamber that can be moved between a first and a second maximum position. This allows the fill level to be changed, and in particular reduced, between the melting and refining phases.
[0033] The position in which the furnace chamber is located during the melting phase could be called the first rotation position, first operating position, or simply the working position or the unrotated position.
[0034] Furthermore, the furnace chamber can be continuously moved into at least two other positions, a second and a third, which can also be described as the second and third rotation positions, the second and third operating positions, the extraction position and refining position, or simply as rotated positions. In these second and third positions, the furnace chamber is rotated relative to the first position.
[0035] All spatial specifications, especially height specifications, in this application always refer to the first position of the furnace chamber.
[0036] Page 5. A rotatable furnace chamber is understood here to be a furnace chamber that can be moved between the first and the second or third position around its own axis of rotation, i.e., is rotatable around its longitudinal central axis.
[0037] For example, the furnace chamber could be supported by two pairs of axially spaced wheels, gears, or other supports, such as those of a rotary drive. In cross-section, the center of gravity of the furnace chamber is then located above the midpoint between the supports of the first pair and the supports of the second pair. When the furnace chamber is moved between the first and the second or third position, only a rotation occurs, but not necessarily a tilting, i.e., a shift in the center of gravity of the furnace chamber.
[0038] The furnace chamber can also be movable by tilting between the first and second positions. For example, the furnace chamber can be movable about another axis that runs parallel to the longitudinal direction, the longitudinal center axis, and / or the axis of symmetry of the furnace chamber, spaced apart from it. When moving about such an axis, especially an off-center or even differently oriented axis, the rotational movement can be superimposed with an additional shift in the center of gravity of the furnace chamber when the furnace chamber is moved between the first and second or third positions. This corresponds to a tilting or a tiltable furnace chamber. For example, the furnace chamber could be pivotable and thus tiltable about an axis that is pivoted by two axially spaced supports, such as those of a tilting drive.
[0039] The above explanations regarding the first and second or third positions apply regardless of whether the furnace chamber is moved between all positions by tilting or by mere rotation.
[0040] Page 6 Preferably, the heating device shall include a second arrangement and / or number of several second heating burners, which are located closer to the second end wall than to the first end wall.
[0041] In particular, the center of gravity of the second arrangement and / or number of second heating burners and / or the center of gravity of the fluid outlet directions of the second heating burners may be asymmetrical, especially shifted towards the second end wall.
[0042] The second heating burners can be mounted on and / or in the perimeter wall between the two end walls, in particular by means of recesses in the perimeter wall. These recesses can be closed with covers, and the second heating burners can thus be moved into and out of the furnace or perimeter wall. Preferably, the second heating burners, like the first heating burners, are separate, i.e., individual burners.
[0043] The second heating burners enable more efficient and, in particular, more uniform heating. This allows for more intensive heating of areas such as the introduced scrap and / or surface areas of the melt that are located closer to the second end wall than to the first, as well as other surface areas at fill level that would be insufficiently and / or too slowly heated with a conventional heating system. The second heating burners thus enable a more homogeneous temperature distribution, especially in combination with an accelerated and more efficient melting process. This, in turn, increases the melting capacity and the efficiency of the melting furnace.
[0044] When this application refers to the initial arrangement and / or number of initial heating burners, this is to be understood as meaning that all
[0045] Page 7 Heating burners that are arranged on and / or in the first end wall belong to this first arrangement or first number.
[0046] However, when this application refers to the second arrangement and / or number of second heating burners, this is to be understood as meaning that all heating burners located on and / or in the perimeter wall and / or its ceiling area belong to this second arrangement or number. Heating burners located on and / or in the perimeter wall, particularly in its ceiling area, must therefore always be included in the aforementioned second arrangement and / or number of second heating burners, i.e., counted.
[0047] However, the second arrangement and / or second number of second heating burners can be limited to those heating burners that are located above an operational filling level; be it actually and / or as intended, i.e., when the heating burners are in use, for example, when they have been driven through a corresponding opening in the furnace wall into the furnace chamber.
[0048] The first arrangement and / or number of first heating burners and / or the second arrangement and / or number of second heating burners can therefore
[0049] - such first or second heating burners, which are arranged on or in the furnace wall from below or below the operational filling level, and / or
[0050] - such first or second heating burners, which are indeed arranged on or in the furnace wall from above or above the operational filling level, but are actually and / or intended to be immersed to below the filling level,
[0051] to be excluded from consideration or counting for the first or second order and / or number.
[0052] Page 8 The first or second arrangement and / or number of first or second heating burners therefore only needs to include those heating burners which, or whose fluid outlet openings, are intended to be arranged in an atmosphere of the furnace chamber above the filling level.
[0053] Insofar as this application refers to a filling level, this does not mean a fixed numerical value for the filling level, but rather at least a range of values suitable for the process to be carried out in the melting furnace, depending on operational requirements. The filling level can, for example, be specified as a percentage, or more precisely, a percentage range, in relation to the height of the furnace chamber enclosed by the furnace wall. Accordingly, a filling level suitable for operational requirements, i.e., depending on the process, can be considered to be between 0% and 50%, preferably between 10% and 35%, and more preferably between 15% and 30% of the height of the furnace chamber enclosed by the furnace wall.
[0054] Since the melting furnace is intended for both pyrometallurgical smelting (whereby a melt is created from initially solid, copper-containing starting material) and for refining a melt,
[0055] Alternatively, the value range for the fill level can be used, which(s)
[0056] - when filling and / or refilling initially solid, copper-containing starting material,
[0057] - during the melting of the copper-containing starting material and / or
[0058] - during the refining of the melt
[0059] The value is reached, or in particular, the maximum value is reached. Depending on the process step, this value or range of values can therefore vary within the framework of the predetermined process steps.
[0060] Page 9. Preferably, the second arrangement and / or number of second heating burners may consist of each of which is located closer to the second end wall than to the first end wall. However, this need not necessarily apply to all second heating burners.
[0061] Therefore, it may preferably also be provided that
[0062] - that all second heating burners of the second arrangement and / or number are arranged at respective distances from the second end wall which are between 75% and 10%, preferably between 65% and 10%, in particular between 45% and 10%, of the distance between the two end walls,
[0063] - wherein the average distance between all second heating burners of the entire second arrangement and / or number of second heating burners is between 45% and 15%, preferably between 40% and 20% of the distance between the two end walls.
[0064] The averaging over all second heating burners is preferably carried out in the manner of center of gravity determination for the coordinates of all second heating burners in the axial direction, i.e. in the longitudinal direction of the furnace.
[0065] Preferably, it may be provided that
[0066] that the heating burners of the second arrangement and / or number of second heating burners
[0067] - at least two or three different distances from the second end wall and / or
[0068] - are arranged in at least two or three different azimuthal positions relative to a highest centerline of a ceiling area of the perimeter wall.
[0069] In particular, it may be provided that
[0070] that the second arrangement and / or number of second heating burners includes exactly one second heating burner which
[0071] - on the highest center line of the ceiling area of the perimeter wall
[0072] Page 10 - is located at a distance from the second end wall,
[0073] which is between 45% and 10% of the distance between the two end walls.
[0074] Furthermore, it may be provided that
[0075] that the number of second heating burners includes at least one second heating burner which
[0076] - is located on the highest center line of the ceiling area of the perimeter wall - at a distance from the second end wall,
[0077] - which is between 45% and 10% of the distance between the two end walls.
[0078] This heating burner can, for example, be provided in that half or in that third of the length of the perimeter wall, its ceiling area and in particular the length of the center line of this ceiling area which borders the second end wall.
[0079] Preferably, it may be provided that
[0080] that the second arrangement and / or number of second heating burners
[0081] - a second heating burner arranged along a highest center line of the ceiling area of the perimeter wall and / or
[0082] - at least two additional secondary heating burners arranged offset in the circumferential direction from the highest center line of the ceiling area of the perimeter wall
[0083] includes.
[0084] The “highest” center line is established when the melting furnace is in its normal operating position, i.e., not in a tilting position.
[0085] The latter, azimuthally offset second heating burners can, for example, be offset in a direction transverse to a longitudinal section plane that passes through a symmetry and / or longitudinal center axis of the furnace wall. In cross-sectional view, these burners, or their points of intersection with the
[0086] Page 11: The perimeter wall is then off-center from the highest cross-sectional point and therefore also lower; especially in the case of a circular cylindrical furnace cross-section.
[0087] Preferably, it may be provided that
[0088] that the second heating burner(s) each have a fluid outlet opening with a fluid outlet direction which
[0089] - the angle bisector between
[0090] - the vertical downward direction and
[0091] - the radial direction pointing into the interior of the oven,
[0092] each viewed from a point where the respective second heating burner penetrates the circumferential wall, corresponds to and / or
[0093] - lies within a directional cone with an opening angle of at most ±20°, preferably at most ±10° around this angle bisector.
[0094] In contrast, second heating burners arranged centrally below the highest center line of a ceiling area of the perimeter wall will always have fluid outlet directions perpendicular downwards or at least parallel to the longitudinal section plane.
[0095] For additional second heating burners arranged off-center, however, their fluid outlet direction can correspond to the vertical downward direction, i.e., the perpendicular downward direction, but alternatively also have an angular deviation with a directional component in the transverse direction, i.e., in the cross-sectional plane, and / or with a directional component in the longitudinal direction, i.e., in the longitudinal section plane.
[0096] To determine direction – in particular to define directions by attaching the direction arrows to a respective starting point – the respective point of penetration of the second heating burner on the circumferential wall is preferably used. Alternatively, the fluid outlet opening and / or its tip can be used to define the direction.
[0097] The directional arrows shown on page 12 are used. Technically, the fluid outlet direction is usually determined by the orientation of the fluid outlet opening and / or its tip.
[0098] Within the longitudinal section plane passing through the longitudinal center axis, i.e. the radial plane, the respective fluid outlet direction of the second heating burner can be viewed in the projection onto the longitudinal section plane.
[0099] - pointing vertically downwards or
[0100] - lie within an angular range that deviates by no more than ±50°, preferably no more than ±25°, from the vertical downward direction.
[0101] Such a directional component of the fluid outlet direction within the longitudinal section plane can be provided for the other second heating burners, but additionally or alternatively also for those second heating burners that are arranged in the longitudinal section plane and / or on the highest center line of the circumferential wall.
[0102] Viewed within the cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis, the respective fluid outlet direction of the second heating burner can, alternatively or additionally, have a directional component in the transverse direction, i.e., within the cross-sectional plane, when projected onto this cross-sectional plane; preferably, this lies within a respective angular range defined in the cross-sectional plane by
[0103] - the vertical downward direction and
[0104] - the radial direction towards the longitudinal center axis
[0105] limited, in particular by
[0106] - the vertical downward direction and
[0107] - the direction towards a point located vertically or perpendicularly below the longitudinal center axis at fill level,
[0108] Page 13 is limited. The point at filling level is, in particular, a point on the surface of the melt that lies perpendicularly below the center of a circumferential wall that is circular or otherwise symmetrical in the cross-sectional plane.
[0109] For defining the direction, preferably either the point of penetration of the respective additional heating burner on the circumferential wall is used, or alternatively, the orientation of the fluid outlet direction and / or its tip can be used.
[0110] Preferably, it can be provided that the second heating burners and / or their fluid outlet openings can be moved into and out of the circumferential wall through respective recesses in the circumferential wall that can be closed with covers.
[0111] Preferably, the heating burners are all arranged on or in the furnace wall above a defined operational fill level of the copper-containing starting material and / or the melt. This applies in particular to their flame outlet openings, which are thus located above the operational fill level, and preferably also to their points of penetration through the furnace wall.
[0112] According to an exemplary embodiment, the first arrangement and / or number of front-facing first heating burners comprises exactly two or at least two first heating burners arranged at the same height above a filling level intended for operation.
[0113] Preferably, the first heating burner(s) of the first arrangement has a fluid outlet opening with a respective fluid outlet direction, which
[0114] - parallel to a symmetry and / or longitudinal center axis between the two end walls in the direction of the second end wall and / or
[0115] Page 14 - in the direction of the second end wall within a directional cone with an opening angle of at most ±20°, preferably at most ±10° around the axis of symmetry and / or longitudinal center.
[0116] Preferably, it is provided that at least one or some of the heating burners - of the heating system, in particular
[0117] - the second arrangement and / or number of second heating burners are pure oxygen burners, which
[0118] - the supplied fluid fuel under
[0119] -Mixing with pure oxygen without air content and / or
[0120] -Mixing with nitrogen-free pure oxygen
[0121] burn and / or
[0122] - Introduce a nitrogen-free fluid mixture into the furnace chamber and / or its atmosphere. Preferably, all heating burners of the heating system are designed as pure oxygen burners.
[0123] For the pure oxygen and the fluid fuel, either a single common nozzle or fluid outlet opening, or alternatively several separate nozzles or outlet openings, can be provided. Separate inlets or outlets are also possible.
[0124] Fluid flows of pure oxygen and fluid fuel can be combined in the burner nozzle of the heating burner before entering the furnace chamber. Depending on the design, this can increase or limit the flame temperature.
[0125] All features mentioned so far can also be combined with the embodiments described below. Conversely, all features mentioned below can also be combined with the embodiments described so far.
[0126] The invention is described below with reference to the figures. The figures show:
[0127] Page 15 Figure 1 shows a cross-section through an exemplary, merely schematically depicted embodiment of a melting furnace according to the invention, preferably parallel to its two end walls,
[0128] Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section through an exemplary embodiment from Figure 1 ,
[0129] Figure 3 shows a top view of the exemplary embodiment of Figures 1 and 2.
[0130] Figure 4 shows a top view of another exemplary embodiment, which has a further second heating burner arranged laterally outside a highest center line of the circumferential wall, and
[0131] Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 4.
[0132] Figure 1 shows a cross-section through an exemplary, merely schematically represented embodiment of a melting furnace 1 according to the invention. The melting furnace 1 is shown in a cross-sectional plane yz parallel to its two end walls, i.e., with a view of one of the two end walls.
[0133] As can be seen in Figure 2 (further side view; longitudinal section view in longitudinal section plane xz) and in Figure 3 (top view xy), the end walls are end walls and comprise the first end wall 4 shown on the left and the second end wall 6 shown on the right in these figures. Between them extends the circumferential wall 5, which, like the two end walls 4, 6, belongs to the furnace wall 3 and is shown in Figure 1 as, for example, a circular furnace cross-section.
[0134] Page 16. The furnace 1 can be tilted, in particular rotated, about its longitudinal central axis L (viewed from the side in Figure 2 and from above in Figure 3) or about any other axis R, in order to readjust the fill level F between the melting phase and the refining phase. Two, four, or more tilting drives 25 can be provided for tilting or rotating; for example, as shown in Figure 1, in the form of four rollers or gears, between which the furnace wall 3 is rotatably or tiltably supported and / or mounted (curved arrow in Figure 1) above a building floor or other base 50 in the transverse direction y.
[0135] Above the operational filling level F defined for the melting furnace, i.e., a typical filling level F as determined by the process to be carried out in furnace 1 for the recovery of copper - in particular by pyrometallurgical melting and by refining the melt, specifically by introducing flames into the furnace chamber - there are
[0136] - in the first end wall 4 first heating burners 11 arranged and
[0137] - according to the invention, at least one additional heating burner 12 is arranged in the circumferential wall 5.
[0138] Since the first arrangement and / or number of first heating burners 11 are located on the first end wall 4, but the exhaust gas outlet 9 is located on or near the opposite second end wall 6, a fluid flow is created in the direction towards the second end wall 6. This directs the heat generated by the first heating burners 11 or their flame outlet openings 16 essentially parallel to the longitudinal center axis L towards the second end wall 6 and thus towards the surface of the starting material M, i.e., the introduced scrap, and / or the entire surface of the melt S. In particular, if the flame outlet openings 16 of the first heating burners 11 also point essentially towards the second end wall 6, the heat spreads
[0139] Page 17 generated heat via the attack surface and / or surface in the direction of the second end wall 6.
[0140] Nevertheless, within this attack area and / or surface, local areas may occur where the starting material M and / or the melt S is heated less than in surrounding areas.
[0141] To ensure a more homogeneous temperature distribution over this attack surface and / or surface, at least one second heating burner, preferably even a second arrangement 20 and / or number of second heating burners 12, is provided according to the invention. The total quantity of heating burners 7 of the heating device 8 according to the invention thus comprises both the first heating burners 11 at the end faces and the second heating burner(s) 12 positioned in the circumferential wall 5. Preferably no heating burners are provided in the second end face 6, in particular not above the fill level F.
[0142] For the positioning and / or mounting of the second heating burners 12, of which two second heating burners 12 are shown in the illustrated exemplary embodiment (see Figures 1 and 2), a top ceiling area 15 of the perimeter wall 5 is particularly suitable; in particular its highest center line 15a (Figure 3).
[0143] However, further second heating burners 12a can also be arranged circumferentially on both sides of the highest center line 15a in Figure 3, as illustrated by the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5. Their fluid outlet directions can be tilted or inclined instead of pointing vertically downwards, as shown in Figure 4; in particular, tending towards the longitudinal center axis L and thus, as shown in Figure 5, towards the radius of the circumferential wall 5 or towards a surface point of the melt perpendicularly below it.
[0144] Page 18. Such additional second heating burners 12a, mounted off-center, i.e., on both sides outside the highest center line 15a in Figure 3 on the circumferential wall 5, can, for example, have a respective (further) fluid outlet direction A (Figure 5), which corresponds approximately to the angle bisector w between the vertical downward direction v and the radial direction r, or which may lie within this angular range around the angle bisector w. Angular tolerances, in particular permissible angular ranges for the fluid outlet directions A that deviate from this, can optionally be specified, as described above, by directional cones (not shown), for example, around the angle bisector w, or by separate angular ranges in the longitudinal section plane xy (Figure 1) and / or in the cross-sectional plane yz (Figure 2).Preferably, the (second) fluid outlet directions A of all second heating burners 12 point approximately downwards, whereas the (first) fluid outlet directions 16 of all first heating burners 11 point approximately towards the second end wall 6. However, the (first) fluid outlet directions 16 of the first heating burners 11 can also have an additional vertical directional component.
[0145] The additional second heating burners 12 are preferably arranged symmetrically to the longitudinal section plane xz, i.e., preferably always in pairs, at the same distance from the first and second end walls and / or at the same height. Preferably, in the longitudinal direction x, second heating burners 12 arranged along the highest center line 15a alternate with pairs of further second heating burners 12a arranged on both sides of the highest center line 15a, as illustrated by way of example in Figures 4 and 5. Alternatively, second heating burners 12 arranged at predetermined intervals along the highest center line 15a and pairs of further second heating burners 12a arranged on both sides thereof at uniform distances from the second end wall 6 can be arranged.
[0146] Furthermore, the perimeter wall 5 includes, in addition to the ceiling area 15, also
[0147] Page 19 - lateral areas in front of and behind the drawing plane of Figure 2 (and thus to the right and left of the ceiling area 15 in Figure 3 or 4) and / or
[0148] - a ground-level filling area, in particular a ground area 18.
[0149] The bottom filling area and / or the bottom area 18 serves to receive the raw or starting material M, in particular scrap metal,
[0150] - a melt S and / or
[0151] - of the copper that has been at least partially recycled.
[0152] The first and second heating burners 11 and 12 are preferably positioned, or at least temporarily positionable, at recesses and / or penetration points of the first end wall 4 or the perimeter wall 5 and / or its ceiling area 15, for example.
[0153] - by opening covers (not shown) to close the recesses and / or puncture points and
[0154] - by at least partially entering the furnace room, i.e., furnace chamber 2.
[0155] The furnace wall also preferably has the following features:
[0156] - at least one charging door 14 (Figures 1 and 2) for introducing copper-containing starting material M in solid form into the furnace chamber 2 and / or
[0157] - at least one spout 13 (Figure 2) for pouring molten and / or recycled copper from furnace chamber 2 and / or
[0158] - at least one additional outlet (not shown) for removing slag or other foreign matter from furnace chamber 2
[0159] on.
[0160] A particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention provides that all or some of the heating burners 7, in particular the second heating burner 12, are designed as pure oxygen burners, i.e., as heating burners that - expose the supplied fluid fuel to
[0161] Page 20 - Mixing with pure oxygen without air content and / or mixing with nitrogen-free pure oxygen
[0162] burn and / or
[0163] - introduce a nitrogen-free fluid mixture into furnace chamber 2 and / or its atmosphere.
[0164] Preferably, it is provided that
[0165] - at least one or some of the heating burners 7 of the heating system 8, in particular
[0166] - at least one or some of the second heating burners 12 of the second arrangement 20 and / or number are designed in this way as pure oxygen burners.
[0167] Finally, according to a particularly advantageous further training program, it is stipulated that
[0168] - all heating burners 12 of the second arrangement 20 and / or number of second heating burners 12, preferably even
[0169] - all heating burners 7 of the heating unit 8 are each designed as pure oxygen burners.
[0170] By designing the heating burners 7 and / or the first and / or second heating burners 11, 12 as pure oxygen burners, as described above, the energy efficiency of the combustion and / or flame feed into the furnace chamber 2 is increased, thereby achieving a more efficient and faster metallurgical melting and refining process. This also reduces the volume of exhaust gases discharged through the exhaust gas outlet 9. Furthermore, depending on the specific conditions, this metallurgical treatment can potentially be carried out with reduced CO2 emissions.
[0171] While Figures 1 to 5 show the melting furnace 1 in a first, in particular untilted or unrotated, orientation or operating position, which is intended for heating and in which
[0172] Page 21 - at least one furnace door or charging door 14 is arranged at a height above the floor area 18 and / or above a filling height F above the floor area 18 and / or
[0173] - the bottom area 18 is arranged on the underside of the melting furnace, the melting furnace 1 can preferably be configured to
[0174] - to orient furnace chamber 2 for casting recycled copper and / or for casting molten foreign materials in a different second operating position (not shown), tilted or inclined relative to the first operating position, in which
[0175] - which at least one oven door or charging door 14 is brought to a lower height, in particular to a height closer to and / or partially below a filling level F and / or
[0176] - the floor area is tilted and / or twisted relative to its usual, lowest position.
[0177] The melting furnace described here is particularly suitable for the production of fire-refined copper, i.e. refined or processed by fire and / or flames, with a purity level of up to over 99.9%.
[0178] Page 22 Reference Mark List
[0179] 1 melting furnace
[0180] 2 Oven chamber
[0181] 3 Oven wall
[0182] 4 first front wall
[0183] 5 Perimeter wall
[0184] 6 second front wall
[0185] 7 heating burners
[0186] 8 Heating system
[0187] 9 Exhaust outlet
[0188] 10 first arrangement
[0189] 11 first heating burner
[0190] 12 second heating burner
[0191] 12a further second heating burner 13 spout
[0192] 14 Charging door
[0193] 15 Ceiling area
[0194] 15a Center line
[0195] 16, 17 Fluid outlet opening
[0196] 18 Floor area
[0197] 20 second order
[0198] 25 Tilting drive
[0199] 50 subsurface
[0200] A Fluid outlet direction
[0201] d point of penetration
[0202] F Filling level
[0203] L Longitudinal axis
[0204] M Starting material
[0205] R axis
[0206] r radial direction
[0207] Page 23S Melt
[0208] v vertical direction w angle bisector x, y, Z direction
[0209] xy Top view
[0210] xz longitudinal plane yz cross-sectional plane
[0211] Page 24
Claims
Patent claims 1. Smelting furnace (1 ) for the recovery of copper from copper-containing starting material (M) by pyrometallurgical smelting and by refining a melt (S), wherein the melting furnace (1) has at least the following features: - a furnace chamber (2) with a furnace wall (3) which has a first end wall (4), an opposing second end wall (6) and a circumferential wall (5) running between them, - an exhaust gas outlet (9) for discharging exhaust gases from the furnace chamber (2), wherein the exhaust gas outlet (9) is located in the second end wall (6) and / or in an upper area of the circumferential wall (5) on and / or near the second end wall (6) is arranged, and - a heating device (8) for heating the copper-containing starting material (M), a melt (S) and / or an atmosphere above it, - wherein the furnace chamber (2) is tiltable and / or rotatable about an axis (R) extending in a longitudinal direction, and - wherein the heating device (8) is formed from a plurality of heating burners (7) distributed over the furnace wall (3) for burning fluid fuels to introduce heat into the furnace chamber (2), and comprises a first arrangement (10) and / or number of end-face first heating burners (11) arranged on or in the first end wall (4), characterized by - at least one second heating burner (12) which is arranged on or in the circumferential wall (5), preferably its ceiling area (15), - wherein the at least one second heating burner (12) is arranged closer to the second end wall (6) than to the first end wall (4).
2. Melting furnace (1) according to claim 1, characterized by Page 25 that a plurality of second heating burners (12) are provided, all of which are arranged closer to the second end wall (6) than to the first end wall (4).
3. Melting furnace (1) according to claim 2, characterized by - that all second heating burners (12) are arranged at respective distances from the second end wall (6) which are between 75% and 10%, preferably between 65% and 10%, in particular between 55% and 10% of the distance between the two end walls (4, 6), - wherein the distance of the entire second arrangement (20) and / or number of second heating burners (12) from the second end wall (6), averaged over all second heating burners (12), is between 45% and 15%, preferably between 40% and 20% of the distance between the two end walls (4, 6).
4. Melting furnace (1) according to one of claims 2 to 3, characterized by that the second heating burners (12) - at least two or three different distances from the second end wall (6) and / or - in at least two or three different azimuthal positions relative to a highest center line (15a) of a ceiling area (15) of the perimeter wall (5) are arranged.
5. Melting furnace (1) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by that at least one of the second heating burners (12) - on a highest center line (15a) of the ceiling area (15) of the perimeter wall (5) - is arranged at a distance from the second end wall (6), Page 26 - which is between 45% and 10% of the distance between the two end walls (4, 6).
6. Melting furnace (1) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized by that the majority of second heating burners (12) - at least one second heating burner (12) arranged along a highest center line (15a) of the ceiling area (15) of the perimeter wall (5), and / or - at least two further second heating burners (12a) arranged offset in the circumferential direction from the highest center line (15a) of the ceiling area (15) of the perimeter wall (5) includes.
7. Melting furnace (1) according to claim 6, characterized by that the further second heating burners (12a) each have a fluid outlet opening (17) with a fluid outlet direction (A) which - the angle bisector (w) between - the vertical downward direction (v) and - the radial direction (r) pointing into the interior of the oven, each viewed from a point of penetration (d) of the respective second heating burner (12a) through the circumferential wall (5), corresponds and / or - within a directional cone with an opening angle of at most ±20°, preferably at most ±10° around this angle bisector (w).
8. Melting furnace (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by Page 27 that the second heating burners (12) and / or their fluid outlet openings (17) pass through respective recesses in the circumferential wall (5) which can be closed with covers. - can be driven into the perimeter wall (5) and - extendable from the perimeter wall (5) are.
9. Melting furnace (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the heating burners (7; 11, 12) are arranged above an operational filling level (F) of the copper-containing starting material (M) and / or the melt (S) assigned to the melting furnace (100) for a specific phase of the melting and / or refining and / or reduction process on or in the furnace wall (3).
10. Melting furnace (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that the majority of first heating burners (11) comprise at least two first heating burners (11) arranged at the same height above the filling level (F) intended for operation.
11. Melting furnace (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that the first heating burner(s) (11) have a fluid outlet opening (16) with a respective fluid outlet direction, which - parallel to a symmetry and / or longitudinal center axis (L) of the circumferential wall (5) between the two end walls (4, 6) in the direction of the second end wall (4) and / or - in the direction of the second end wall (6) within a directional cone with an opening angle of at most ±20°, preferably at most ±10° around the axis of symmetry and / or longitudinal center (L). Page 2812. Melting furnace (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by the fact that - at least one or some of the heating burners (7) of the heating system (8), in particular - at least one or some of the second heating burners (12) are pure oxygen burners, which - the supplied fluid fuel under - Mixing with pure oxygen without air content and / or - Mixing with nitrogen-free pure oxygen burn and / or - introduce a nitrogen-free fluid mixture into the furnace chamber (2) and / or its atmosphere.
13. Melting furnace (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by that - all second heating burners (12), preferably - all heating burners (7) of the heating system (8) are each designed as pure oxygen burners. Page 29