Show BI I FINK SMELTER PROCESS It has long been the problem with metallurgists metallurgists metallurgists metal metal- to devise some method for the smelting of copper more satisfactory than the copper blast furnace It is claimed that the Fink process now being tried at Garfield Garfield Garfield Gar- Gar field will prove a a successful solution This is described by Dr W. W C. C Ebaugh in the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry for March as follows The Fink plant consists essentially of two large rotating compartments lined with tories between which is a flue for the passage pas- pas sage of gases from one compartment to another another an an- other as well as the openings for the introduction introduction introduction in- in of the fuel These smelting compartments compartments compartments com com- or cylinders are made in in the shape of truncated cones placed base to base connected at the one end with the central central cen cen- en- en flue and at the other with a chimney I In n the plant at Garfield which is estimated to have a capacity of one hundred tons these cylinders are nine feet in length and nine feet feet- in maximum diameter and taper to seven feet at the ends The lining re reduces reduces reduces re- re duces the maximum internal diameter to about seven feet Each end of the cylinder has an opening three feet in diameter These cylinders are rotated by wheels but in future installation it is planned to have direct gear drives in order to avoid slipping This process permits of a wide range ange of fuels and since fuel is such an important item in smelting a method of more fuel economy will be exceedingly welcome The plant at Garfield was designed for crude oil fuel but at the time the test was made the oil could not be obtained and slack coal was substituted with success Through the central opening magnesia- magnesia tipped water-jacked water are inserted for forthe forthe forthe the purpose of admitting air in ing and heating The charge is carried into the cylinders by a screw conveyor Around the middle of each cylinder are three tap holes for the removal of slag matte or metal In operating the furnace both cylinders cylinder arc are in use at the same time The ores or concentrates are fed into one cylinder which still contains the slag f om a preceding bes- bes blow The cylinder is then rotated rotated rotated ro ro- and the gases from the smelting operation operation operation oper oper- going on in the other cylinder are led j 4 consecutively through the middle flue Thus the roasting is carried on in one cylinder cylinder cylinder cyl cyl- cyl- cyl inder while smelting is going on in th the other i iThe The Thc process seems to be a commercial success and is highly recommended by sev several several several eral mining men r |