The Kivcet Furnace Construction at Portovesme

The process, realized in. the Kivcet furnace, can convert continuously lead concentrates, residues and secondary lead bearing materials into a lead bullion free of sulphur and a discardable slag. The lead recovery can be up to 99%. The long experience of about three years at Portovesme demonstrates the capability of the furnace to smelt a very. high range of lead raws without interruption of the operation. The operating costs are very competitive in comparison to the traditional technology. The work place and environment are clean and new tight regulations for the? hygiene control are met. The Kivcet furnace can be considered as consisting of three parts (reaction shaft, waste gas shaft and electro-furnace) connected with a common hearth. The technical basis of the furnace construction is the application of a number of design elements .which have mostly been used before in designs of industrial furnaces, such as open hearth furnace, refining furnace and other furnaces dealing with liquid meta1s. Refractory wear in the reaction shaft with typical pattern from watercooling soon has been stabilized and since maintained. No deformation of the furnace shell and no leakage of metal or s:l:ag through the bottom is? appeared after three years' operations.