Zinc plant expansion

The expansion mechanism adopted makes maximum use of the existing equipment and layout. On the other hand, future expansions will require major investments in each of the main production areas. Current thinking favours a duplication of the existing plant. This can be done in conjunction with construction of a new hydroelectric plant at Picada (about 23 km from the zinc plant). At present, it is envisaged that this project will be realized during the latter part of 2003. 

The authors would like to acknowledge the hard work of all of the BRZ employees who contributed to the success of the plant expansion projects. Special tq>preciation is extended to to Mr. K. W. Jeon of Korea Zinc who served as the on-site liaison between the two companies for over two years. 

Refractories. Its low coefficient of expansion, high thermal conductivity, and general chemical and physical stabihty make sihcon carbide a valuable material for refractory use. Suitable apphcations for sihcon carbide refractory shapes include boiler furnace walls, checker bricks, mufflers, kiln furniture, furnace skid rails, trays for zinc purification plants, etc (see Refractories). 

Zinc production at CPM s plant in Juiz de Fora has increased since commissioning in 1980. Market predictions suggest that increased demand for zinc in Brazil will continue and this, coupled with the recent commissioning of the CPM-owned Sobragi hydroelectric plant, prompted management to embark on yet another expansion. This expansion, scheduled for completion at the end of 2000, will boost CPM s capacity to 86,000 t/y of zinc. Originally, this represented an increase of 16,000 t/y, but plant trials performed under overload conditions, indicated that a production increase of 5,000 t/y could be obtained almost without additional investment. 

We have maintained a zinc production capacity of 156,000 t/y since 1974. On the other hand, the Japanese zinc market needed to import of about 100,0001 of zinc annually because of the short domestic supply. Expansion of the plant capacity had been repeatedly examined since the early 1990 s. During that time, the demand for zinc in Japan has been falling slightly, and two Japanese refineries stopped production. In 1996, we decided to start an expansion project. 

The capacity was 170,000 tonnes of zinc per year after the 1988 modernisation of the plant. Today the current roasting capacity has been increased to about 190,000 tonnes, see Figure 1. After the 1998 expansion, based on the direct leaching of zinc concentrates, the new total capacity of the Kokkola plant is about 225,000 tonnes of SHG zinc (99.995 %) per year. The latest on-going expansion will further increase both the leaching and roasting capacity to... 

ASTURIANA DE ZINC EXPANSION AT THE SAN JUAN DE NIEVA PLANT FOR A ZINC PRODUCTION OF 440,000 TONNES PER YEAR... 

Building a new melting and casting plant, including a new dross grinding installation and the expansion of the zinc dust plant current capacity. 

The test program, which is nearing completion, is expected to generate the full quantity of zinc dust for the total production of the plant. The dust will have a characteristic of D5o=30p with the size distribution shown in Figure 1. The expansion will also consist of revamping the existing zinc dust plant. Pneumatic transport will send the zinc dust to the various bins in the purification area. 

For the zinc concentrates tested by Dynalcc an expansion of an existing roast-leach-electrowin plant using pressure leaching offers economics that arc favourable in comparison to those of an atmospheric leach. 

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