采矿与选矿

Anglo Platinum Converting Process Project ACP commercial plant EPCM

Anglo Platinum Management Services is currently upgrading their Waterval Smelter in order to reduce sulphur emissions and remain in compliance with changing governmental regulations.  The work is principally comprised of replacing their Peirce-Smith converters with Ausmelt process technology.  The intention is to achieve the highest environmental standards for sulphur dioxide capture.  The Ausmelt converting process, which is fed with granulated electric furnace matte (unlike Peirce-Smith converters which receive hot-charged matte), takes place in a totally contained vessel, which makes it possible to contain all the gas generated in the process.  The new, high-strength gas stream from the Ausmelt process, as well as the existing electric furnace off gas, will be routed to a new turnkey acid plant.

The project also includes brownfields electric furnace matte granulation facilities as well as converter slag granulation and a new slow-cool aisle for the controlled cooling of the converter matte.  After slow cooling, the solidified converter matte is crushed and sent to Anglo’s base and precious metals refineries to separate the nickel, cobalt, copper, and platinum-group metals.

Scope of Services:
Hatch construction provided full basic and detailed engineering, procurement, and construction management services for the design and construction of the plant.  To augment the base team in its South African office and at the plant site, Hatch used its in-house specialists in process and furnace design.

Project Highlights:
The plant is improved sulphur fixation levels of converter gas from 55% to more than 95%, decreasing the total sulphur dioxide emissions of the Waterval Smelter to within the 20 tonne per day limit requirement of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.

The plant will also receive and process electric furnace matte from Anglo Platinum’s Union and Pietersburg furnaces.

Project Cost: R1.66 billion

Client: Anglo Platinum

Location: Rustenburg, South Africa

Start: March 2000

Completion: May 2002