Comparisons between Sulfide Flash Smelting and Coal Combustion-with Implications for the Flash Smelting of High-Grade Concentrate

A novel approach to the study of flash smelting is being developed based on previous coal combustion studies. Combustion of particle clouds is being studied with particular emphasis on the effect of combustion phenomena such as heat and mass transfer within the cloud. This has particular relevance for the flash smelting of high-grade copper concentrates. Work is current ly in progress and will eventually encompass experimental studies together with mathematical modeling to describe the influence of highgrade concentrate on the combustion characteristics of the particle cloud.