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A. Liu et al.
cylindrical refractory lined vessel and a lance to provide process air and oxygen
delivery to the bath. Wet feed is added to the process, including solid fuel. The
technology was initially developed in the 1970s by CSIRO looking to improve tin
smelting operations. The technology was adapted to a range of different applications
including copper, lead and nickel smelting.
The advantages of the TSL process are the improved ability to capture process
off gases and to minimise fugitive emissions. In addition, the process can take feed
materials in a variety of forms and compositions. The process has been used for
treating sulphide concentrates, oxide residues, battery scraps, and miscellaneous
lead bearing material. The process has been widely accepted in industry with several
operations globally.
Typically, the TSL process has been used as a primary smelting furnace to generate
a synthetic sinter that can be delivered to the blast furnace for reduction to lead metal.
There have been examples when a second TSL is installed, and the slag is reduced
in this furnace to lead metal. The TSL furnace can also be used in a batch mode to
complete both the oxidation and reduction in a single vessel. This demonstrates the
flexibility of the process.
Process and technology selections are dependent on the ultimate name plate capacity, concentrate and secondary mix of feed to the smelter and the customers appetite
for technology options and variations. The synthetic slag also preforms differently
in the blast furnace, and this can impact the technology selection process. If the blast
furnace is of a suitable size with enough flexibility to allow the required process
changes, this can be a suitable flowsheet concept.
SKS Technology
The technology was developed in China and has been used now extensively in China
over the last 10 years. The technology again is a bath smelting process; however, it
takes place in a horizontal bottom blown vessel. Feed is delivered to the furnace via
feed conveyor to an opening in the top of the vessel. The furnace is maintained under
suction to ensure that there are no fugitive emissions from the feed delivery. Oxygen
and process air (and in some cases pulverised coal) are delivered to the process via
bottom sonic tuyeres. Slag and some bullion are tapped from the furnace. The slag is
cast into small ingots that are used as synthetic sinter for addition to the blast furnace.
The process can be used to produce synthetic sinter for delivery to a blast furnace,
or a second reduction SKS can be used to replace the blast furnace. These plants
are now producing lead at world class tonnages, and much of the lead produced in
China is now from this process. The SKS reduction process is also carried out in a
horizontal vessel with bottom blowing tuyeres.
This process has had a significant impact on the Chinese lead smelting and production industry. The number of lead SKS operating units has increased rapidly over
A. Liu et al.
cylindrical refractory lined vessel and a lance to provide process air and oxygen
delivery to the bath. Wet feed is added to the process, including solid fuel. The
technology was initially developed in the 1970s by CSIRO looking to improve tin
smelting operations. The technology was adapted to a range of different applications
including copper, lead and nickel smelting.
The advantages of the TSL process are the improved ability to capture process
off gases and to minimise fugitive emissions. In addition, the process can take feed
materials in a variety of forms and compositions. The process has been used for
treating sulphide concentrates, oxide residues, battery scraps, and miscellaneous
lead bearing material. The process has been widely accepted in industry with several
operations globally.
Typically, the TSL process has been used as a primary smelting furnace to generate
a synthetic sinter that can be delivered to the blast furnace for reduction to lead metal.
There have been examples when a second TSL is installed, and the slag is reduced
in this furnace to lead metal. The TSL furnace can also be used in a batch mode to
complete both the oxidation and reduction in a single vessel. This demonstrates the
flexibility of the process.
Process and technology selections are dependent on the ultimate name plate capacity, concentrate and secondary mix of feed to the smelter and the customers appetite
for technology options and variations. The synthetic slag also preforms differently
in the blast furnace, and this can impact the technology selection process. If the blast
furnace is of a suitable size with enough flexibility to allow the required process
changes, this can be a suitable flowsheet concept.
SKS Technology
The technology was developed in China and has been used now extensively in China
over the last 10 years. The technology again is a bath smelting process; however, it
takes place in a horizontal bottom blown vessel. Feed is delivered to the furnace via
feed conveyor to an opening in the top of the vessel. The furnace is maintained under
suction to ensure that there are no fugitive emissions from the feed delivery. Oxygen
and process air (and in some cases pulverised coal) are delivered to the process via
bottom sonic tuyeres. Slag and some bullion are tapped from the furnace. The slag is
cast into small ingots that are used as synthetic sinter for addition to the blast furnace.
The process can be used to produce synthetic sinter for delivery to a blast furnace,
or a second reduction SKS can be used to replace the blast furnace. These plants
are now producing lead at world class tonnages, and much of the lead produced in
China is now from this process. The SKS reduction process is also carried out in a
horizontal vessel with bottom blowing tuyeres.
This process has had a significant impact on the Chinese lead smelting and production industry. The number of lead SKS operating units has increased rapidly over