US1236395A - Method and apparatus for extracting zinc. - Google Patents

Description

E. S. BERGLUND.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING ZINC.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I5, 1916.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

E5. Berg/Una.

Ira water" fur 1 EDWARD SALOMON BERGLUND, F TROLLHATTAN, SWEDEN. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR. EXTRACTING- ZINC.

masses.

Application filed February 15, 1916. Serial No.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD SALOMON BERGLUND, engineer, a subject of the King of Sweden, residing at Trollhattan, Sweden, have invented new and .useful Improvements in the Method and Apparatus for Extracting Zinc, of which the following is a specificat1on.

When condensing zinc vapors, generated in an electric furnace, adapted for the extraction of zinc from its ores, part of the zinc isobtained in a condition of powder, so called poussz're, and not in liquid condition, especially in that part of the condenser,

WhlCll is most remote from the escape open- J ing of the furnace.

This fact is dependent on many circumstances, among others thereof, that the zinc vapors as a rule are diluted with other gases or vapors; and that it is difficult to maintain the different temperatures, which are most suitable for the condensation of differently diluted zinc vapors, in different parts of the condenser.

If the temperature is maintained so high throughout the condenser, that zinc is condensed in a liquid condition in said, remote parts of the condenser, the whole amount of zinc will not be condensed in the condenser, as the temperature then will betoo high for condensing the vapors in such parts of the condenser, which are nearer to the electric furnace, the result being that a considerable part of the zinc vapors escape together with the other gases from the condenser, which zinc vapors thus are lost if special arrange ments are not provided.

When withdrawing the p oussire, usually generated in the condenser, said poussz're is oxidized byith'e air and will burn to 'oxidd which must be reduced to zinc by a secon treatment in the electric furnace. 1

This means a considerable inconvenience, partly because carbon is consumed for the reduction, and partly because gases are developed, which dilute the zinc vapors and make the condensation diflicul v The present invention refers to a method adapted to avoid said inconveniences and consists therem, that the poussire generated in the condenser, is introduced directly in a furnace, without getting the opportunity of coming in contact with the air.

Figure 1 shows a plan of an electric furnace in combination with condensing arrangements according to the present inven- Specification of Letters Patent.

paratively high,

makes the ordinary Patented Aug. Ml, 1191?. 78,381.

tion. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line A-B in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line C-D in Fig. 1, and Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical sections on lines E-F and G-H respectively in Fig. 1.

1 indicates an electric furnace, to which is jointed a condenser 2, in which by means of the brick lining 3 or .by other suitable means the temperature is maintained comsuch temperature being adusted in such a manner, that mainly liquid zinc is obtained by condensation, and only a small quantity of poussz're. The condenser 2 is'divided by means of one or more partition walls 4 in two or more partitions, through which the gases pass in the manner indicated by the arrows in Figs. 2 and 4.

To said condenser is joined a second condenser 5, in which the non-condensed gases, escaping from the condenser 2, are cooled in such a manner, that practically all zinc contained in such gases is condensed in'the form of powder or poussz're. For this purpose the condenser 5 is made of sheet iron without'any lining of insulating material, and is provided with a number of pipes 6 or the like, in order to augment the condensing surface. The condenser 5 may also consist of a pipe system of cast iron or the like. From said condenser 5 the remaining gases which do not contain zinc and which cannot be condensed, are withdrawn through the outlet 7 In the arrangement illustrated on the drawings the condenser 5 is connected with the furnace l by means of a channel 8, which is provided with a screw conveyer 9 or similar device, adapted to feed the zinc powder (poussz're), generated in the condenser 5, into said furnace This poussz're thus charge, contained in the furnace, considerably richer in zinc, whereby the escaping gases also will be richer in zinc and easier to condense to a liquid condition than when the ordinary alone is treated in the furnace.

f desired the whole or part of the ordinary ore charge may be introduced into the condenser 5 through a suitable feed opening 10, whereby such charge will be preheated in the condenser 5, and said latter simultaneously will be correspondingly cooled. In such case the charge as well as the poussz're is introduced in the furnace l by means of the screw conveyer 9.

By means of the method now described the poussz're generated is prevented from ore charge described in the furnace, part of the zinc extracted in said furnace is circulated through the furnace and condenser system in a closed cycle, whereby the gases escaping from the furnace, after a certain condition of continuity has entered, will receive their greatest concentration, which is attainable under the existing circumstances, so that the condensation will be highly facilitated. If said convenience is dispensed with the channel 8 with the screw conveyer 9 may open into another furnace than the furnace 1, in which the poussz're is treated for extracting the zinc, contained therein. The condenser, in which the gases are introduced from the furnace 1 according to the present invention, consists of two different compartments 2 and 5. The compartment 2, through which the gases first pass, is constructed and arranged in such a manner, that a comparatively high temperature is maintained therein so that zinc is condensed in a liquid condition. The compartment 5 on the contrary is constructed so that the gases entering the same from the first compartmentare cooled in such a degree, that practically all zinc is condensed therein in a pulverous condition.

The convenience is obtained hereby, that mainly liquid zinc is condensed in the first compartment, which zinc is drawn off,

whereas only a small quantity of poussre is generated. In the second-compartment 5 the Z1110 is condensed exclusively in condition of powder or posssire, which is or may be re-introduced by means of the screw conveyer 9 to the furnace 1.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In the electro-thermic extraction of zinc, condensing the zinc vapors, precluding contact between air and the zinc powder" formed and re-introducing thezinc powder into the furnace and thereby increasing the content of zinc in the furnace gases.

' tracted in a closed cycle 2. In the electro-thermic extraction of zinc condensing the furnace gases in two successive steps and re-introducing the zinc powder, formed by the second condensing step into the furnace, precluding its contact with air, so that part of the zinc extracted is circulated through the furnace and condenser system in a closed cycle.

3. In the electro-thermic extraction of zinc increasing the content of zinc in the furnace gases by circulating part of the zinc exthrough the furnace and condenser system.

4. A zinc condenser, comprising two compartments in succession, one of said compartments connected with the escape opening of an electric furnace and lined with heat insulating material, and the second compartment connected with an inlet of said electric furnace and without such insulating lining.

5. A zinc condenser comprising two compartments in succession, one of said com- .ipartments being connected with the escape opening of an electric furnace and the second compartment being connected with an inlet to the said electric furnace.

6. A zinc condenser, comprising two compartments in succession, one of said compartments connected with the escape opening of an electric furnace, and the second compartment provided with means for introducing powder, contained therein, into an electric furnace.

7. A zinc condenser, comprising two condensing compartments in succession, one of said compartments connected with the escape opening of an electric furnace, and the second compartment provided with means for introducing a zinc containing charge in said compartment, and with means for introducing said charge from said compartment into an electric furnace.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two-subscribing witnesses.

' EDWARD SALOMON BERGLUND- Witnesses:

HUGO IJINDBRAU, BCMH. ONSCER.

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