High-intensive Operation and Productivity Increase in Flash Smelting Furnace Operation at Saganoseki Smelter & Refinery

摘要

Since 1973, Saganoseki Smelter & Refinery hadoperated two flash smelting furnaces together to produce 330,000mtpy of copper. However, in 1990's, economical situationrequired the smelter more increased productivity to remaincompetitive. The program to integrate two flash furnaces into onewas carried out maintaining the same production. Modificationswere done on the pneumatic concentrate drying system,concentrate feeding system, concentrated burner and furnacecooling system, etc. to double the furnace throughput. A new largecryogenic oxygen plant was constructed replacing two old plants.Single flash smelting furnace operation has started in March1996. As a result, much improvement of productivity and costreduction were accomplished. This paper describes about details ofmodifications and operational results.