Minería y Geología (Jan 2022)
Post-combustion effect on the main technical-economic indices in the Herreshoff furnace for nickel production
Abstract
The main disadvantage of Caron technology for the extraction of nickel from lateritic minerals is the high energy consumption related to the mineral preparation processes in the Herreshoff furnaces prior to the extraction of nickel. This work analyzes the effect of the post-combustion process in the H4 and H6 hearths of the furnace on its technical-economic indices. The tests were carried out in the furnace of the Pilot Plant of the Nickel Research Center (CEDINQ), Moa, Cuba, which reproduces the technology conditions of the Punta Gorda Plant. The experiments were developed in three ways: (1) varying the post-combustion conditions in the H4 and H6 hearths independently, (2) with the use of post-combustion in H4 and H6 varying the temperature in the H6 hearth and (3) without use of post-combustion. The tests were carried out in compliance with the standards established by the Punta Gorda Plant for the quality control of the process. The results obtained indicated that there are appreciable variations in the technical-economic indexes: nickel extraction efficiency, specific fuel oil consumption and, to a lesser extent, in the content of unburned in the furnace outlet gases according to the post-combustion conditions applied. The lowest relative consumption of fuel oil (72%) was reached when post-combustion is applied in H4 and H6 hearths and the temperature in H6 of 750 °C, for which 86.36% of nickel extractable is reached.
