Thermodynamic modelling of liquid slag-matte-metal equilibria applied to the simulation of the Peirce-Smith converter

Computer simulation plays an increasingly important role in improving the environmental and economic performance of pyrometallurgical extraction processes. The thermodynamic description of the chemical systems involved is at the core of such advanced simulation software. A thermodynamic database has been developed to describe the phase relations and chemical reactions in the Al–Ca–Cu–Fe–Mg–O–S–Si chemical system with support from the leading copper producers. The database contains model parameters for gas, liquid slag, liquid matte and metal, spinel and numerous solid phases. Models based on the Modified Quasichemical Formalism were used for the slag, matte and liquid metal. The internal consistency of the database provides accurate and reliable predictions outside of the usual operating conditions. The development of the database was closely integrated with the experimental studies of this chemical system. The database works in the environment of FactSage software. The application of thermodynamic modelling is illustrated by the example of the Peirce-Smith converter