6 minute read
Furnace Technology and Equipment to improve the Mining process in South Africa
The world is a global entity that requires constant evolution to supply the demands of its citizens. In that case, we’d more clearly understand how important it is to provide sustainable solutions within the mining industry. This is because mining remains one of the largest contributors to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) regarding gold, platinum, base metals and coal companies.
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According to Stats SA, after two consecutive quarters of positive growth, GDP decreased by 0.7% in the second quarter of 2022 (Q2:2022). Floods and load shedding contributed to the decline and weakened and fragile economy. Mining, in particular, furnace technology, can positively impact the GDP and alleviate the electricity crises. To understand how it is vital to know precisely how furnace technology serves the mining community and how it factors into the economy’s growth.
Global demand and relative growth
Mining investments in terms of exploration and development indicate the future sustainability of the mining sector. Mining companies with roots in South Africa are increasingly reducing their operations in South Africa and expanding to other parts of the continent and the globe.
For this reason, within South Africa itself, the need for technology to advance is required to ensure the country runs at its optimal best - and that investors remain interested in what South Africa has to offer. Even though Covid has impacted mining production, according to Netbank Economic Insights, the sector has performed better than the average growth levels during September 2017, 2018 and 2019, indicative of the relatively higher commodity prices and global demand.
What is the furnacing process?
Furnaces enhance and improve the mining process. Consider that once Ore has been extracted, it needs to be processed into usable materials, which can be turned into products for construction and engineering. As a result, furnaces are commonly used in the mining industry. The furnace has undergone several technological evolutions over the millennia, and the need for highquality ore processing has necessitated this With technology constantly evolving, there is much to look forward to in the near and distant future. David Roelof De Wet, Managing Director and Founder of Therm Tech South Africa, a thermal equipment provider in South Africa, explains, “Furnace Technology Equipment in the mining sector involves the following equipment, Gold Mining, Plant Boilers, and Thermal Oil Heaters are all used in the elution heating system”.
What types of furnaces are available?
Furnaces offer various levels of capability. The furnace you choose is wholly dependent on your needs and overall objectives, with a strong focus on green mining. Modern-day furnacing technology is tuned to developing furnacing options that positively affect the environment, protecting the environment and repairing existing damage.
In addition, new technologies improve energy efficiency and align benefits between
miners and the environment. However, the three main furnaces to consider are Bloomery, Blast, Mechanical Furnaces and Induction furnaces.
Bloomery Furnaces are one of the earliest types of furnaces. It is capable of smelting Iron. It produces a bloom, a porous mass of iron and slag, and can be worked into wrought iron. It consists of a heat-resistant chimney made of clay, stone, or earth and pipes called tuyeres.
Blast Furnaces are single-chamber furnaces that produce iron. In addition, it can smelt lead and copper. Ore, Limestone, and Coke are fed into the top of the furnace. Preheated air is blown into the bottom of the furnace. Some modern Blast Furnaces can process tons of ore and metal.
Mechanical Furnaces are split into four classes, namely Stationary Health Furnaces, Rotating-Bed Furnaces, Rotating Cylindrical Furnaces and Shaft Furnaces. These types of furnaces are used in many mining industries across the world. Reverberatory furnaces isolate the material and prevent it from coming into contact with the fuel - although it does have the potential to come into contact with combustion gasses. Induction Furnaces are highly-efficient, modern electrical furnaces that don’t require fuel to melt the desired substance. Instead, they are utilized induction coils to heat the ore. They also have an electric power supply and are water-cooled. Traditional furnaces can be significantly energy-intensive. They may require large amounts of fuel to operate. At times it may produce unwanted products, including smoke, dust and other pollutants.
What role do furnaces play?
De Wet elaborates by saying that Furnace technology also plays a significant role in roasting plants to expose the gold taped in sulphide. Plant kilns reactivate the carbon in the Gold Process plant system. Gold Melting furnaces melt the gold and produce Gold Bar’s. Boilers and Waste heat Boilers are used to increase the chemical reaction and production in the Copper Mining sector and where Cobalt is a byproduct to dry Cobalt for transportation.
What advancements are there?
As the industry requires, technology has advanced. These are the most basic types of furnaces available, but consider that significant advancements have been made.
For example, consider Hybro Heat furnace technology, developed by the SMS Group Division, which combines the advantages of cost-effective preheating of log materials in a gas furnace and precise temperature setting by means of induction technology before extruding the billet. De Wet shares his thoughts on the advancements within the industry, “With IIOT technology, mines situated in remote and isolated locations can be provided with remote assistance from a service provider, ultimately reducing downtime.” “Modernday technology has advanced so much that electronic systems can be upgraded to link fewer controls. As a result, the furnace will operate within the optimized air-fuel ratio, with precise combustion control. This results in higher efficiency, less fuel and reduced CO2 emissions,” says De Wet.
How can furnaces alleviate the electricity crisis in South Africa? With the significant electricity crisis in South Africa, how does furnace technology alleviate the problem? According to De Wet, if systems are rebuilt with the right technology, the equipment can operate efficiently, particularly regarding the electricity crisis in South Africa. Therefore, he says he advises that electrical furnaces be converted to Combustion furnaces. “The result would be a high relief on the national grid. Also, the CO2 emission impact will be minimal as most of South Africa’s electricity is produced by fossil fuels,” concludes De Wet.
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