Cold modelling of slag-matte emulsions

The purpose of this work was to study the phenomena of coalescence and breakage of sulphide matte droplets in the slag-matte emulsions of the Vanyukov Process. This is a Russian designed non-ferrous bath smelter utilising side injection of the blast into a slag melt. A two dimensional, 1/6 scale perspex model with a continuous sample flow was developed. The model incorporated the use of digital camera ity and image analysis technology. Water and a low viscosity paraffin oil were chosen to represent the matte and slag phases respectively. Operating regimes described by Reynolds, Weber and Modified Froude dimensionless number groups were selected to assess the relationship between gas flow rates and he matte droplet size distribution. The gas flow rates studied in this project ranged from 0 to 140 l/min. Increasing flow rates from zero to 96 l/min resulted in an increase in the mean droplet diameter. An optimum flow rate in terms of maximising mean droplet diameter, and hence settling velocity, was found to occur with flow rates of 96 l/min. Increasing gas flow rates above this value resulted in a decrease in the mean droplet diameter.