More than 80 pct of copper matte in the world is refined by a Peirce–Smith converter (PSC), but there still exist a number of problems restricting the productivity of PSC. A novel view for improving the copper PSC process was proposed by investigating the bubble distribution and surface splashing through water model experiments. The operating parameters of tuyere diameter ( d ), liquid height ( H ), and gas flow rate ( Q ) were determined, and dimensionless equations were developed that calculate the bubble surface area per unit bath volume, A b /( HL ); bubble number, N b ; and vertical and horizontal splashing distances, x / y , with errors less than 5 pct. From the application of the similarity principles on the results of the water model experiments, the optimal industrial parameters were determined as d = 0.03 m, H = 1.8 m, and Q = 30,000 to 35,000 Nm 3 /h. These results indicate that the current industrial PSCs are well within the ranges of these dimensions, with the possible exception of the tuyere diameter, which is typically 0.05 m.

中文翻译：

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Peirce-Smith铜转炉气泡分布和飞溅的实验研究

世界上80%以上的冰铜经过皮尔斯-史密斯转炉（PSC）精炼，但仍存在诸多问题，制约着PSC的产能。通过水模型实验研究气泡分布和表面飞溅，提出了一种改进铜 PSC 工艺的新观点。确定了风口直径（ d ）、液高（ H ）和气体流量（ Q ）的操作参数，并建立了计算单位浴体积气泡表面积的无量纲方程，A b /（ HL ）；气泡数，N b ；和垂直和水平飞溅距离，x/y，误差小于5 pct。根据相似性原理对水模型实验结果的应用，确定最佳工业参数为d = 0.03 m，H = 1.8 m，Q = 30，000 至 35,000 Nm 3 /h。这些结果表明，当前的工业 PSC 完全在这些尺寸的范围内，但风口直径可能除外，通常为 0.05 m。