Teniente converter (copper)
Convertidor Teniente (cobre)
- Date
- 1977 · confidence medium
- Place
- Caletones Smelter, Machalí, O'Higgins, Chile
- Credited to
- Engineers of Codelco's El Teniente Division
- Field
- Matter & energy
What it is
A horizontal cylindrical reactor that smelts copper concentrate and converts it to white metal continuously, using the heat of the reaction. It was commissioned at Caletones and licensed to plants in other countries.
Development took place between 1971 and 1977 and is attributed to the company; there is no single recognised inventor. It is used in Chile and other countries.
What it led to
- More energy-efficient copper smelting
- Export of Chilean metallurgical technology
- Lower sulphur emissions with acid plants