Authors: A. MacRae, M. Wallgren, B. Wasmund, Hatch Associates, Mississauga, Ontario,
J. Lenz, A. Majumdar, P. Zuliani, P. Elvestad, Falconbridge Ltd., Timmins, Ontario
Sulfide Smelting '98
Abstract
Campaign life of the converting furnace has been limited by break-outs through the hearth and
walls. Throughput of concentrate has increased by 60% since start-up of the copper operations
in 1981. The Furnace Integrity program was initiated at Kidd in 1993 to improve the reliability and safety
of the smelting-cleaning-converting furnace line. The converting furnace is undergoing a series
of upgrades to overcome severe refractory wear to the roof, walls and hearth.
A recent shut-down was held in March 1997 to implement improvements to the roof, walls and
slag outlet. Wall modifications included a new upper shell, wall coolers which can be supported
during a shut-down from outside of the vessel, and an increase in the number of cooling blocks.
Improvements to the roof included increased cooling, a novel brick/cooler suspension system,
and roof compression for gas tightness. Design is currently underway to deepen the refractory hearth, to decrease hearth erosion and increase resistance to flotation.
