What are tuyeres used for in a copper converter?

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Molten copper pours from a large industrial furnace into rectangular molds at a copper smelting facility, with glowing metal and industrial equipment visible. — copper processing Molten copper being made into plates.

In a copper converter, tuyeres are used to inject air or oxygen-enriched air into the molten bath of matte.12

By blowing this gas through the tuyeres, the converter facilitates the oxidation of iron and sulfur contained within the matte. The iron is converted into iron oxide slag, which is then skimmed off, while the sulfur is removed as sulfur dioxide gas. This process is highly exothermic, meaning it generates significant heat, which helps maintain the liquid state of the bath and the necessary reaction temperatures.12

In traditional vessels like the Peirce-Smith converter, the tuyeres are positioned in a row across the back of the rotatable, refractory-lined drum, allowing them to be immersed in the molten material during the conversion operation.12