OREANDA-NEWS. May 11, 2011. Balkhash copper melting plant of the Kazakhmys group for the first time used oil fuel heating devices in Vanyukov furnace No. 1. Usage of such devices is a completely new way of delivering heat into a furnace. This improvement of the technology is innovative and aimed at increasing the effectiveness and quality of the copper melting. Introduction of the new technology will earn additional USD1.5 m a year for the plant, reported the press-centre of KASE.

It is supposed to introduce such devices on the second Vanyukov furnace. The total amount of investments in this project is estimated at more than USD700 th.

Testing of oil fuel heaters at Vanyukov furnace No. 1 has been carried out since 2010 by plant employees in association with specialists of the Institute SteelProject. The tests showed: increasing of temperature during melting makes it possible to raise the effectiveness of low-sulphur concentrates and lower the content of copper in the waste. Oil fuel heaters are safe to operate and convenient to maintain.
                                                                                     
Sergei Dyachenko, General Operations Director of the Kazakhmys group said: "Lowering the content of sulphur in the melting process thanks to usage of oil fuel heaters at Balkhash copper melting plant is an additional step towards increasing the plant's effectiveness".