Zinc Plant Expansion and Modification for Increased Metals …
375
is necessary to reduce the feed rate to protect the furnace dome against overheating.
The Outotec FPS technology solves this problem. Most of the fines are kept in the
fluidized bed, and the full furnace capacity can be used. The reduced dust entrainment
from the fluid bed reactor after implementation of FPS should be beneficial for the
off-gas treatment. During the cooling, the fine dust reacts with SO 2 and forms easily
hard sulfates (agglomerates) on the surface of the heat exchangers. The cleaning
of bundles is in many cases challenging, and often, it is required to stop the whole
operation for the purpose of the boiler cleaning. Thus, the reduced dust amount after
implantation of FPS should reduce also the required cleaning frequency and improve
the general performance of waste heat boiler.
Conclusions
The direct leaching expansion at Torreón zinc plant is now operating at close to
nominal capacity. The concept for integrating DL to the roasting–leaching plant has
been shown functional. The integration of several new process steps to an operating
plant is by nature challenging, and certain parts of the process operation still need
fine-tuning and stabilization.
At the time of writing, the new process equipment of pure jarosite and roaster
FPS is mostly installed, whereas piping, electrification, and automation installations
of the modification project are still ongoing. The start-up of these areas is planned
for 2020.
References
1. Lahtinen M et al (2005) Atmospheric zinc concentrate leaching technology of Outokumpu.
Paper presented at lead & zinc ’05. Kyoto, 17–19 Oct 2005
2. Haakana T et al (2008) Outotec direct leaching application in China. J South Afr Inst Min Metall
108(5):245–251
3. Hirsi T, Saxen B (2020) Outotec gypsum removal circuit and Outotec cooling tower performance
in neutral solution cooling. Paper to be presented at PbZn 2020. San Diego, California, 23–27
Feb 2020
4. Saxen B, Lahtinen M, Savikangas J (2017) Higher metal recovery by Outotec pure jarosite
process. Paper presented at European metallurgical conference, Leipzig, 25–28 June 2017
375
is necessary to reduce the feed rate to protect the furnace dome against overheating.
The Outotec FPS technology solves this problem. Most of the fines are kept in the
fluidized bed, and the full furnace capacity can be used. The reduced dust entrainment
from the fluid bed reactor after implementation of FPS should be beneficial for the
off-gas treatment. During the cooling, the fine dust reacts with SO 2 and forms easily
hard sulfates (agglomerates) on the surface of the heat exchangers. The cleaning
of bundles is in many cases challenging, and often, it is required to stop the whole
operation for the purpose of the boiler cleaning. Thus, the reduced dust amount after
implantation of FPS should reduce also the required cleaning frequency and improve
the general performance of waste heat boiler.
Conclusions
The direct leaching expansion at Torreón zinc plant is now operating at close to
nominal capacity. The concept for integrating DL to the roasting–leaching plant has
been shown functional. The integration of several new process steps to an operating
plant is by nature challenging, and certain parts of the process operation still need
fine-tuning and stabilization.
At the time of writing, the new process equipment of pure jarosite and roaster
FPS is mostly installed, whereas piping, electrification, and automation installations
of the modification project are still ongoing. The start-up of these areas is planned
for 2020.
References
1. Lahtinen M et al (2005) Atmospheric zinc concentrate leaching technology of Outokumpu.
Paper presented at lead & zinc ’05. Kyoto, 17–19 Oct 2005
2. Haakana T et al (2008) Outotec direct leaching application in China. J South Afr Inst Min Metall
108(5):245–251
3. Hirsi T, Saxen B (2020) Outotec gypsum removal circuit and Outotec cooling tower performance
in neutral solution cooling. Paper to be presented at PbZn 2020. San Diego, California, 23–27
Feb 2020
4. Saxen B, Lahtinen M, Savikangas J (2017) Higher metal recovery by Outotec pure jarosite
process. Paper presented at European metallurgical conference, Leipzig, 25–28 June 2017