Method for obtaining non-ferrous metals, in particular black and/or raw copper, from scrap containing organic matter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023272507-A1
Application number	US-202118015798-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 17, 2021
Priority date	Jul 14, 2020
Publication date	Aug 31, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for obtaining non-ferrous metals, in particular black and/or raw copper, from scrap containing organic matter, comprises the following steps: i) providing a melting reactor, wherein the melting reactor includes a melting region, a combustion region and a pyrolysis region; ii) supplying the melting reactor with a mixture comprising the scrap such that it first passes through the pyrolysis region and the combustion region before it reaches the melting region, and is at least partially pre-pyrolyzed and/or combusted, such that an energy-containing gas stream is formed; iii) transferring the energy-containing gas stream into a thermal post-combustion chamber, in which the energy-containing gas stream is completely combusted and thermal energy released during combustion is carried off via an energy recovery unit; and iv) melting the scrap containing organic matter at least part of which has been pre-pyrolized and/or combusted.

First claim

1 .- 12 . (canceled)

13 . A method for obtaining non-ferrous metals, in particular black and/or raw copper, from scrap containing organic matter ( 8 ), comprising the following steps:
i) providing a melting reactor ( 2 ), wherein the melting reactor ( 2 ) is configured such that it has a melting region ( 5 ), a combustion region ( 6 ), and a pyrolysis region ( 7 ); ii) supplying the melting reactor ( 2 ) with a mixture comprising the scrap containing organic matter ( 8 ) such that it first passes through the pyrolysis region ( 7 ) and the combustion region ( 6 ) before it reaches the melting region ( 5 ),
wherein the mixture has an organic content of at least 10 wt %, and
wherein the mixture is at least partially pre-pyrolyzed and/or combusted such that an energy-containing gas stream ( 9 ) is formed before the mixture reaches the melting region ( 5 );
iii) transferring the energy-containing gas stream ( 9 ) into a thermal post-combustion chamber ( 3 ), in which the energy-containing gas stream ( 9 ) is completely combusted and thermal energy released during combustion is carried off via an energy recovery unit ( 11 ); and iv) melting the scrap containing organic matter ( 8 ) at least part of which has been pre-pyrolized and/or combusted.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the melt is cooled by feeding an inert gas into the combustion and/or melting region ( 5 , 6 ) forming an energy-charged inert gas stream ( 14 ).

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the energy-containing gas stream ( 9 ) is transferred into the thermal post-combustion chamber ( 3 ) by the energy-charged inert gas stream ( 14 ).

16 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the scrap containing organic matter ( 8 ) is fed to the melting reactor ( 2 ) in countercurrent to the energy-charged inert gas stream ( 14 ).

17 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the pyrolysis region ( 7 ) has a temperature of at least 180° C.

18 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the pyrolysis region ( 7 ) has a temperature of at least 900° C.

19 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the scrap containing organic matter ( 8 ) in accordance with step ii) is fed in crushed form.

20 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein an exhaust gas stream ( 15 ) formed in the thermal post-combustion chamber ( 3 ) is fed to a filter device ( 4 ).

21 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein step ii) is assisted by selectively injecting an oxygen-containing gas.

22 . A plant ( 1 ) for recovering non-ferrous metals, in particular black and/or raw copper, from scrap containing organic matter ( 8 ) having an organic content of at least 10 wt %, comprising:
i) a melting reactor ( 2 ), wherein the melting reactor ( 2 ) is configured such that it has at least one melting region ( 5 ), a combustion region ( 6 ) and a pyrolysis region ( 7 ); ii) a thermal post-combustion chamber ( 3 ) in which an energy-containing gas stream ( 9 ) is completely combustible; and iii) an energy recovery unit ( 11 ) through which thermal energy released during combustion can be carried off.

23 . The plant ( 1 ) according to claim 22 , further comprising at least one injector ( 12 , 13 ) for feeding an oxygen-containing gas and/or an inert gas.

24 . The plant ( 1 ) according to claim 22 , further comprising a filter device ( 4 ).

Assignees

• Sms Group Gmbh

Inventors

• Degel Rolf
• Lux Timm
• Kaussen Frank Marlin
• Borowski Nikolaus Peter Kurt

Classifications

• C22B15/0056 Primary

  Scrap treating · CPC title

• C22B15/0052

  Reduction smelting or converting · CPC title

• C22B7/003

  only remelting, e.g. of chips, borings, turnings; apparatus used therefor · CPC title

• C22B5/10 Primary

  by solid carbonaceous reducing agents · CPC title

• C22B7/004

  separating two or more metals by melting out (liquation), i.e. heating above the temperature of the lower melting metal component(s); by fractional crystallisation (controlled freezing) · CPC title