Metso is launching a next-generation AnodeFurnace for reducing CO2 emissions, improving impurity removalcapabilities, and bringing flexibility in treating secondary materials. Theupgraded Anode Furnace is part of the Metso Plus offering.
“Raw materials pose both great challengesand opportunities for copper smelters today. At the same time, the smelters arelooking to identify potential reduction sources for greenhouse emissions, whilethe evolving raw material base is not making this paramount task easier. Metso’sOutotec® Anode Furnace is a great fit for solving these challenges. Withits innovative CO2 emissions reduction solutions, improved impurityremoval capabilities and the flexibility to treat secondary materials, itbrings the long-trusted workhorse of the copper smelting industry into themodern era,” explains Miikka Marjakoski, Senior Sales Manager, Anode Castingand Anode Furnace Technologies at Metso.
Newfeatures enable the reduction of CO2 emissions
The upgraded Anode Furnace features thelatest design, advances in process safety, and ease of maintenance. Furthermore,it presents two exciting methods for reducing CO2 emissions.
“When it comes to CO2 emissions, thenew Anode Furnace is unique. The process is fully prepared to utilize directhydrogen reduction in the H2-ready variant. However, if the customer has noopportunity to switch to hydrogen use at present, Metso can also provide thetechnology to significantly increase the current gaseous hydrocarbon reductantefficiency with a steam-gas reduction system. Combining this with Oxyfuelcombustion at the burners, the total reduction in CO2 emissions is demonstrablysignificant compared with traditional processes. This has also been provedthrough LCA calculations,” says Marjakoski.
The Anode Furnace delivery scope consistsof all key equipment required for operating the furnace. Metso’s holisticcompetence in smelter process optimization and integration of automationsystems ensures that the furnace will be seamlessly integrated into theprocessing chain in both brownfield and greenfield applications. When combinedwith services and on-site support, a smooth commissioning and start-up isensured.
Furthermore, Metso’s Scrap Melting Furnacevariant of the Anode Furnace presents an opportunity to treat a substantialamount secondary raw materials by utilizing integrated burners for meltingpurposes.
“The Outotec® Scrap Melting Furnaceyields great flexibility in treating any mixture of molten copper from upstreamprocesses and high-grade secondary copper feed directly into the anode furnace.It can be used as a stand-alone melting furnace utilizing solely secondary rawmaterials, making the product a go-to choice for primary and secondary smeltersalike,” Marjakoski concludes.