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Why is a rotating converter used in traditional copper conversion?
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copper processing
Molten copper being made into plates.
In traditional copper conversion, a rotating converterāsuch as the Peirce-Smith converterāis used primarily to facilitate the necessary chemical reactions and material handling required to transform molten matte into blister copper.12
The converter is rotated for the following functional reasons:
- Immersion of Tuyeres: Rotation allows the operator to submerge the tuyeres into the molten bath. This is essential for blowing air or oxygen-enriched air directly into the liquid, which oxidizes the iron and sulfur present in the matte.12
- Slag Removal: The vessel is rotated to skim off the iron oxide slag that forms during the oxidation process.1
- Pouring Product: Once the conversion is complete, the converter is rotated to pour out the resulting blister copper.1
This batch operation relies on the rotation of the cylindrical steel shell to manage the sequence of charging, reacting, skimming, and discharging the materials efficiently.12