Mathematical modeling of flash smelting systems involves the simulation of fluid dynamics and the mass, heat and chemical reaction phenomena. This presentation will outline the steps employed in developing a mathematical model and an experimental reactor, used to simulate flash smelting of copper concentrates. The experimental results are compared with the projections of the mathematical model. An electrically heated 0.13 m by 2 m high laboratory flash reactor was designed and constructed so that the gas-particle stream in the reactor shaft represented a cylindrical core of dispersed particles in an industrial smelter. Process conditions similar to those found in an industrial smelter were used, with the objective of investigating the effect of variations in the principal operating parameters on the stream temperature under simulated flash smelting conditions. The axial temperature profiles in the gas flow through the reactor and the rate of heat transfer by convection between gas and reactor wall were determined. Flash reaction tests were conducted on the effects of particle size, concentrate feed rate, oxygen loading ratio, and oxygen-enrichment on the stream temperature and the degree of reaction.
