TESTS OF A FLUX-FREE ELECTROSMELTING TECHNOLOGY AT AO GMK PECHENGANIKEL

摘要

Raw materials processed at AO GMK PECHENGANIKEL are characterized by reduced contents of sulfur and elevated contents of magnesium (see Table 1). Independent of the preparation method, such characteristics predetermine the possibility to use electrosmelting. To a large degree, characteristics of this process determine technical and economic indicators of the pyrometallurgical production as a whole.At present, electrosmelting is carried out to obtain slag containing 40-41 percent SiO_2, which is achieved by adding to the charge 11 percent of quartz flux. The spoil slag then contains, on average, percent: 0.15 percent Ni; 0.11 Cu, and 0.06 Co. Smelting is carried out at a working voltage on the furnace transformers of 550 - 600 V. The associated electricity consumption is 860 kW centre dot h per 1 ton of the nickel-containing charge.