Hugo Joubert – författare

No pyrometallurgical smelter can operate without some form of tapping system. It is the one thing all smelters have in common. This collection discusses this meeting point of the science, technology, and skill involved in this process.

The tap-hole design process includes a set of design criteria, which need to be revised as the results of laboratory, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and time-and-motion studies become available. The tap-hole life cycle is considered in this volume, with authors addressing the requirements for installation and operability as well as for maintenance. Matters such as online monitoring of the tap-hole wear, handling of liquid products, and extraction of fumes are all discussed.

 Although much has been done to make the tapping process as automatic as possible, tapping of smelters cannot be done without labor. Tap floor operators work in harsh environments where safety is of utmost importance. Selection of suitable personnel and intensive training is required and is discussed in this collection.

This collection explores the methods and challenges of containing corrosive and abrasive materials at extreme temperatures, whether they are used across commodities or technology specific. There is much to be learned from cross-commodity and cross-technology perspectives and this collection creates a platform for the exchange of ideas on the challenges, solutions, failures, and successes in furnace containment designs and applications while bringing together perspectives from industry, design houses, and research institutions. Topics include, but are not limited to:

·       Advances in furnace lining design philosophies

·       Advances in furnace design configurations and other design considerations

·       Problems experienced and their solutions implemented during construction and commissioning

·       Back to basics: refractory materials, shells, and cooling systems

·       Maintaining and monitoring

·       Process control and slag design

·       Lessons learned