Roy I Richards

US Patent:

43157750, Feb 16, 1982

Filed:

Nov 28, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/098000

Inventors:

Robert R. Odle - Harvey LA
Milton E. Berry - Carrollton GA
William W. Brunson - Carrollton GA
William R. Burson - Carrollton GA
Daniel B. Cofer - Carrollton GA
Roy Richards - Carrollton GA

Assignee:

Southwire Company - Carrollton GA

International Classification:

C22B 1514

US Classification:

75 76

Abstract:

Disclosed is an integrated system for continuously melting and refining secondary and blister copper to produce and continuously cast anode grade copper comprising: continuous melting of secondary and blister copper in an optional fuel vertical shaft furnace; continuously or semicontinuously skimming initial slag from the surface of the melted copper in a slag vessel as it drains from the shaft furnace; collecting a reservoir of molten copper in a holding furnace capable of controlling its temperature and subsequent flow; adding fluxes to the molten copper; directing the molten copper into an oxidation vessel where the molten copper and impurities are oxidized; transferring the oxidized and fluxed molten copper to a second slag vessel where slag is skimmed from its surface; flowing the oxygen rich molten copper into a reduction vessel where oxygen content is reduced; collecting a supply of refined molten copper in a final holding vessel; continuously passing the refined molten copper through a filtering ladle containing ceramic foam molten copper filters; and continuously supplying refined and filtered molten copper to a casting ladle which continuously casts the refined and filtered molten copper into anodes of suitable quality for electrorefining or into a cast product not requiring electrorefining.