Flash Smelting Furnace
The flash smelting furnace is designed in three parts, each of which plays a role in the smelting process. In the reaction chamber (a cylinder containing a concentrate burner), the chemical elements of the concentrate undergo dissociation and oxidation, releasing a great deal of heat in the process. The molten material falls into the settler, where the denser components (slag) settle out, leaving the lighter components (matte) on top. Lastly, the gas off-take carries the gas produced by the oxidation of the sulfur present in the concentrate to the heat recovery furnace. Melting the concentrate requires the use of air enriched with oxygen to make up the heat deficit, and only a small amount of fuel is used to compensate for heat loss in the furnace and keep things hot.