Experimental Study on Bubble Distribution and Splashing in a Peirce–Smith Copper Converter

More than 80 pct of copper matte in the world is refined by a Peirce–Smith converter (PSC), but there still exist a number of problems restricting the productivity of PSC. A novel view for improving the copper PSC process was proposed by investigating the bubble distribution and surface splashing through water model experiments. The operating parameters of tuyere diameter ( d ), liquid height ( H ), and gas flow rate ( Q ) were determined, and dimensionless equations were developed that calculate the bubble surface area per unit bath volume, A b /( HL ); bubble number, N b ; and vertical and horizontal splashing distances, x / y , with errors less than 5 pct. From the application of the similarity principles on the results of the water model experiments, the optimal industrial parameters were determined as d = 0.03 m, H = 1.8 m, and Q = 30,000 to 35,000 Nm 3 /h. These results indicate that the current industrial PSCs are well within the ranges of these dimensions, with the possible exception of the tuyere diameter, which is typically 0.05 m.