May. 16, 2025
The RKEF (Rotary Kiln Electric Furnace) process for producing nickel iron is currently a rapidly developing technology for processing laterite ores. This process is mature, the equipment is simple and easy to control, and the production efficiency is high. However, it has several drawbacks, including the consumption of a large amount of metallurgical coke and electric energy, high energy consumption, high production costs, excessive slag production during the smelting process, a relatively high smelting temperature (around 1500°C), and dust pollution. Furthermore, the grade of nickel content in the ore significantly impacts the production costs of the pyrometallurgical process. For every 0.1% decrease in the nickel grade of the ore, the production costs increase by approximately 3-4%.
The process flow of the rotary kiln - submerged arc furnace (RKEF) technology for ore processing is as follows: ore blending - rotary kiln drying - rotary kiln roasting - furnace melting of crude nickel iron - LF furnace refining (or mechanical stirring for desulfurization) - refined nickel iron water quenching - production of qualified nickel iron granules.
In August 2006, Vale do Rio Doce of Brazil commenced the construction of the OncaPuma nickel-iron project in the state of Para. This project utilizes the RKEF process to produce nickel-iron from laterite ore, designed by Demag Company. The project is equipped with two Φ4.6×45m drying kilns, two Φ6×135 m rotary kilns, and two 120,000 kVA rectangular Submerged Arc Furnaces (currently the world's largest in power), with an annual production capacity of 220,000 tons of alloy (grade 25%) and 52,000 tons of nickel.
In recent years, the domestic rotary kiln - submerged arc furnace (RKEF) process for processing laterite nickel ore has also been developing towards large-scale operations. Qingshan Group invested in the construction of Fu'an Dingxin Nickel Iron Company, which was designed by China ENFI Engineering Corporation. The project utilizes two Φ5×40 m drying kilns, four Φ4.8×100 m rotary kilns, and four 33000 KVA circular submerged arc furnaces, with an annual production capacity of 20,000 tons of nickel. The two lines commenced production in June 2010 and have been operating stably with good indicators and the lowest costs domestically. It is a model of the RKEF process that pioneered the use of large rectangular submerged arc furnaces for nickel iron production in China. The company has also constructed two 60000 kVA circular submerged arc furnaces in Yangjiang, Guangdong, which have been put into operation.
This process is suitable for processing magnesium silicate type laterite ore A, intermediate type laterite ore C1, and C2. With a Ni grade >1.6%, ideally 1.8%, it is beneficial for saving production costs.
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The 5 ton electric arc furnace for steel-making is a special purpose equipment that makes ordinary steel, quality carbon steel, alloy steel and non-corrosive steel with electric arc as heat source and scrap steel (iron) as raw material.
15-ton electric arc furnace is used for the short-process steelmaking process, using 100% scrap steel or scrap steel + molten iron (pig iron), or scrap steel + sponge iron (DRI) as raw materials for steelmaking.
The 30-ton AC electric arc furnace is used to melt scrap steel to produce steel. Electrical energy is used to melt scrap steel. An arc forms between the charged material and the electrode.
30 Ton electric arc furnace is used for steelmaking short process smelting, using 100% scrap steel or scrap steel + molten iron (pig iron), or scrap steel + sponge iron (DRI) as raw materials for steelmaking.
The 50-ton ultra-high power electric arc furnace (50TUPH EAF) adopts ultra-high power, high impedance technology, bottom tapping technology (ETB), furnace wall oxygen oil burner and furnace door carbon-oxygen gun technology.
DC electric arc furnace is an electric arc furnace supplying electric energy with DC power supply. There is only one electrode on the top of the DC arc furnace, which is the negative electrode, and the bottom electrode is the positive electrode.
Electric arc furnaces are used to melt scrap steel for steel production. Electrical energy is used to melt scrap steel. An arc forms between the charged material and the electrode. The heat generated by the arc melts the scrap.
Electric arc furnace steel making is a steelmaking method that uses the thermal effect of electric arc to heat the charge for melting.
Ultra-high power electric arc furnace mainly changes the arc characteristics of high voltage and long arc to the arc characteristics of high current, low voltage and short arc
1 ton electric arc furnace is used for melting steel and titanium scrap metal. The principle of electric arc furnace is based on the generation of direct current, which converts electrical energy into heat energy through electrodes to melt the metal.
The closed pig iron furnace (submerged arc furnace iron making) is a non-blast furnace iron making method. Under the premise of guaranteeing the power supply, it is easy to solve the problem by using the reducing agent required by the submerged arc furnace iron making.
The main mechanical device design of Sanui ferroalloy refining furnace combines China's national conditions and draws on international advanced technologies such as Demark and Pyremate.
The Ferronickel submerged arc furnace is a special submerged arc furnace used for smelting nickel-iron alloy. Its main function is to add nickel ore, carbonaceous reducing agent (such as coke) and limestone and other raw materials into the furnace in a certain proportion
The main mechanical device design of Sanui ferrosilicon furnace combines China's national conditions and draws on international advanced technologies such as Demark and Pyremate.
The main mechanical device design of Sanui high carbon ferrochrome furnace combines China's national conditions and draws on international advanced technologies such as Demark and Pyremate.
Industrial silicon submerged arc furnace is an important equipment in silicon ore processing, playing a key role in the silicon industry.
The manganese silicon alloy furnace is mainly used to smelt silicon-manganese alloy, which is an alloy containing silicon and manganese.
The design of the submerged arc furnace main mechanical device by Sanui is based on China's national conditions and draws on international advanced technologies such as Demark and Perlmutter.
Submerged electric arc furnace is mainly used for reducing and smelting raw materials such as ore, carbonaceous reducing agent and solvent. It mainly produces ferroalloys such as ferrosilicon, ferromanganese, ferrochrome, ferrotungsten, silicon-manganese alloy, etc.
Titanium slag production adopts titanium slag electric furnace (circular furnace and rectangular furnace according to its shape) smelting process.
The LF 20 T ladle refining furnace has the functions of arc heating under normal pressure, argon blowing and stirring at the bottom of the ladle, and reducing slag making in the ladle.
LF ladle refining furnace is a bottom-blown argon ladle furnace with three-phase submerged arc heating under normal pressure. It is a device for refining molten steel in a ladle.
VD vacuum refining furnace is a commonly used refining process equipment, mainly used for deoxidation, impurity removal and other operations of molten steel, so as to obtain high purity, low impurity content of high quality steel.
VOD vacuum refining furnace has multiple functions such as vacuum degassing, oxygen blowing decarburization, vacuum charging, argon blowing stirring, non-vacuum temperature measurement sampling, wire feeding, etc.
The cast steel melting induction furnace has outstanding advantages in heat penetration or melting soft magnetic alloys, high resistance alloys, platinum group alloys, heat-resistant, corrosion-resistant, wear-resistant alloys and pure metals.
Metal silicon smelting furnace is a metal silicon medium frequency melting furnace, which consists of furnace body, water and electricity introduction system, furnace tilting device, etc. It has fast melting temperature rise, easy to control furnace temperature and high production efficiency.
Medium frequency induction furnace mainly used for melting steel, alloy steel, special steel, stainless steel, and can also be used for melting and casting non-ferrous metals such as copper, aluminum, lead, zinc, etc. The customized range of induction furnaces sold by Sanrui ranges from 0.1 tons to 10 tons.
Medium frequency induction furnaces are mainly used for melting steel, alloy steel, special steel, stainless steel, and can also be used for melting and casting non-ferrous metals such as copper, aluminum, lead, and zinc.
Medium frequency aluminum melting furnace is used for melting and heating aluminum, scrap aluminum, aluminum ingots, and aluminum alloys; The melting capacity ranges from 100KG to 3000KG.
An induction furnace is an electric furnace that uses the induction electrothermal effect of the material to heat or melt the material. The main components of an induction furnace are sensors, furnace body, power supply, capacitors and control system.
The 3-ton medium frequency coreless induction furnace adopts a 6-phase 12-pulse double rectifier control system. A 2000KVA special rectifier transformer is used for the 2000KW medium frequency power supply.
The conductive arm of an electric arc furnace (EAF) is primarily composed of the front electrode conductive arm holder, a water-cooled clamping ring, the arm body, and the rear conductive copper plate.
The scrap charging basket of the electric arc furnace is mainly used for loading and conveying raw materials such as scrap steel into the electric arc furnace for smelting.
There are many insulation links between the EAF electrode holder and the conductive cross arm body, which greatly simplifies the cconductive cross arm structure and is a new type of electrode arm on the ultra-high power arc furnace.
Generally, the furnace cover of the electric arc furnace adopts the tubular water-cooled closed tube furnace cover structure.
The electrode lifting mechanism of electric arc furnace is composed of conductive cross arm and electrode column device.
Forged copper tile is one of the main accessories in submerged arc furnace (silicon metal furnace, calcium carbide furnace and iron alloy furnace). It generates heat energy due to passing through large current at high temperature, and is easy to be damaged due to poor working environment.
The furnace cover lifting and rotating device consists of a furnace cover lifting mechanism, a rotating mechanism and a rotating frame.
Submerged arc furnace pressure ring is used to monitor the change of air pressure in the furnace in real time, and adjust the air pressure automatically or manually according to the preset parameters to ensure the stability of air pressure in the furnace
Submerged arc furnace water-cooled Roof is an important part of submerged arc furnace (also known as electric arc furnace, calcium carbide furnace or mining furnace), which is mainly used to close the top of furnace body and bear the high temperature and pressure in the furnace.
Short network bus systems), also known as high current line, refers to the general term of the carrier fluid from the secondary outlet terminal of the transformer to the electrode (including the electrode).
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