Optical control of the copper-nickel matte conversion process using exhaust gas spectrometry

Active oxidative processes occurring in autogenic melting units require control of operating modes. Traditional methods for determining the chemical composition of melting products lead to untimely adjustments to the technological modes of operation of melting units. Non-ferrous metallurgy specialists have long known the effect of copper oxidation on flame color. Based on this observation, the authors hypothesized the possibility of operational control of the copper-nickel matte conversion process by the flame spectra of the exhaust gas in relation to the existing pyrometallurgical production at the Nadezhdinsky Metallurgical Plant named after B. I. Kolesnikov of the Polar Branch of PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel. For this purpose, a series of laboratory and industrial studies were conducted using domestic equipment. Laboratory experiments to determine the optimal configuration of the equipment using spectrometers were carried out jointly with the I. P. Bardin Central Scientific Research Institute of Ferrous Metallurgy at the Tamman laboratory furnace. Pilot industrial tests were carried out on horizontal converters of the Nadezhdinsky Metallurgical Plant named after B. I. Kolesnikov, as a result, pronounced spectral lines were not detected, which is due to the location of the equipment and the absence of impurities capable of affecting the flame spectrum. Additionally, studies were carried out on horizontal converters of the Copper Plant, where a higher potential for using spectrometers was noted due to the presence of phase transitions and significantly higher concentrations of elements of the determined spectra. The results of the tests and the experience gained from the work carried out are presented, as well as directions for further research are proposed in order to improve the accuracy of control methods based on the dependence of spectral lines on the course of chemical reactions in autogenous melting units.