Concentrate burner improvement and swirl disperser technology development
Achieving unprecedented smelting performance
BHP Billiton
|
Australia
|
2013–2014
99% oxygen efficiency.
Reduced fuel consumption.
Increased throughput.
10x longer intervals between maintenance.
Challenge
- The project aimed to achieve a step-change improvement in copper concentrate burner-combustion performance to debottleneck production at the Olympic Dam smelter.
Solution
- Developed innovative, patent-pending swirl disperser technology.
Highlights
- Exceptional improvement in burner-combustion efficiency.
- Reduced oxygen and fuel consumption.
- Increased throughput and smelter availability.
“In addition to the other benefits, the new disperser has significantly improved process stability.”
Project numbers
11% improvement oxygen efficiency10x more concentrate smelted per disperser campaign
3x reduction in SO3 production in electrostatic precipitator