RENEWABLE THERMOENERGETIC RESOURCES IN THE PYROMETALLURGICAL COPPER PRODUCTION PROCESS

摘要

Pyrometallurgical copper production is a big consumer of energy resources of all kinds. A large part of invested energy is used in the metallurgical process. The process products are holders of large energy amount that is lost uncontrolled in the environment, thereby affecting adversely the economic and environmental effects. This paper presents the results of research the renewable thermoenergetic resources from metallurgical products. Using the comparative method, the consumption of energy resources is determined in modern technological processes and standard pyrometallurgical process of copper production in Bor (Serbia) and, based on the heat balance, the amount of secondary energy is defined and the method of its evaluation is proposed. Having in mind that the energy is more and more expensive and that the natural energy resources are smaller and smaller, this research presents a contribution to the use of renewable thermoenergetic resources in terms of improving the economy and ecology in the pyrometallurgical copper production.