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Flash smelting and converting furnaces: A 50 year retrospect

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Abstract

1999 marked the 50th anniversary of the Outokumpu flash-smelting process. Originating during the post-World War II energy crisis, flash smelting is a high-intensity process developed to attain ever-increasing throughputs and intensities. Many innovations and continuous development ensued during the next 50 years before today’s state-of-the-art copper-making process chain and environmental benchmarking technology (e.g., Outokumpu flash smelting, Kennecott-Outokumpu flash converting, and flash technology) became possible. This article reviews how Outokumpu flash furnace design, especially cooling for higher heat loads, has improved over the years.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Outokumpu Engineering Contractors Oy, USA

    Ilkka V. Kojo, Ari Jokilaakso & Pekka Hanniala

Authors
  1. Ilkka V. Kojo
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  2. Ari Jokilaakso
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  3. Pekka Hanniala
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Additional information

For more information, contact I.V. Kojo, Outokumpu Engineering Contractors Oy, P.O. Box 862, FIN-02201 Espoo, Finland; telephone 358-9-4211; fax 358-9-421 3973; e-mail ilkka.kojo@outokumpu.com.

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Kojo, I.V., Jokilaakso, A. & Hanniala, P. Flash smelting and converting furnaces: A 50 year retrospect. JOM 52, 57–61 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-000-0049-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-000-0049-5

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