Smelting energy consumption

Scra.p Copper. The energy required for copper production from scrap is appreciably less than that needed production from ores. If the scrap is of low grade and has to be smelted and refined, the energy consumption is about 45 GJ /1 (43 x 10 Btu/t) of copper (52). Scrap that only requires melting and casting uses about 5 GJ/t (4.7 X 10 Btu/t) of copper. 

The best available technique, both environmentally and economically, is accepted on the BAT reference list of the EU. The flash smelting method has been classified on the BAT reference list, because it reduces emissions and energy consumption in metal production. 

Adding the energy required for concentrate supply to the energy inputs for smelting gives the total energy consumption for the production of primary lead by the standard blast furnace-thermal refining approach as close to 30 000 MJ/t of refined lead. 

Figure 9. Comparison of the net energy consumption, defined as [Energy Spent] - [Useful Work Produced], for Looping Suifide Oxidation " and the conventional flash smelting process. ISO reduced the net energy...

The Looping Sulfide Oxidation process shows great potential in copper smelting to achieve the desired anode product, quality, and yields with significant reduction in the net energy consumption of these processes. The LSO technologies can be carried out in readily available... 

Direct yield of bismuth in file process was 94.0%, and the molybdenum recovery was about 97%, while most of file sulfur converted to the soluble sodium salt, less portion remain in the leaching residue with the phase of FeS2 and CU2S. Thus tiiis metiiod has a high bismuth direct yield, comprehensive recovery effect, and none pollution of sulfur dioxide, low energy consumption for its smelting temperature of 600 C to 900 °C. Its flow sheet are as Figure 4. 

Aluminum is second to iron in terms of production and consumption and is the most important metal of commerce in the United States. As the resources of other metals are depleted further, the relative position of aluminum will increase. Aluminum can be extracted from many resources. Even though such extraction may be more expensive than from bauxite, it will still be economically feasible. The increased cost of extraction will be offset substantially by increased recycling of aluminum, which saves 95% of the energy required for extraction, and by any new smelting processes that require less energy. 

Ohno, K Hino, M Kinetic analysis of iron carburization during smelting reduction, Science and technology of innovative ironmaking for aiming at energy half consumption, Japan, November, 2003,17-20. 

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