Tenova Pyromet has been selected by Sibanye-Stillwateras their technology partner for the upgrade of their largest Platinum Group Metals smelting furnace. Sibanye-Stillwater awarded a feasibility study in November 2020 to Tenova Pyromet to develop the upfront engineering and budget estimate for the upgrade of the crucible of their Furnace no 1 at Marikana, North West Province, South Africa. Subsequently, in July 2021, Tenova Pyromet has been awarded the contract for the detail design, supply and construction of the furnace crucible upgrade. The detail engineering and procurement phase is well underway, and the construction phase is due to start during the second quarter of 2022.Sibanye-Stillwater’s main objectives with the furnace upgrade are to further improve reliability, campaign life and availability in the long run.Tenova Pyromet’s innovative composite graphite-copper sidewall coolerswill be employed in the upgraded furnace sidewall. The design represents the next iteration of the reliable copper plate cooler design used on Furnace no. 2 combined with Tenova Pyromet’s composite graphite-copper MAXICOOL® high intensity coolers, successfully in operation on another PGM smelter. Tenova developed a patent that covers the use of graphite in combination with copper cooling to prevent the sulphide corrosion of the copper cooling elements in a furnace sidewall. The use of graphite helps to protect the copper cooler from the corrosion caused by free sulphur present in the furnace sidewall adjacent to the concentrate feed layer.
Tenova Pyromet has been selected by Sibanye-Stillwateras their technology partner for the upgrade of their largest Platinum Group Metals smelting furnace. Sibanye-Stillwater awarded a feasibility study in November 2020 to Tenova Pyromet to develop the upfront engineering and budget estimate for the upgrade of the crucible of their Furnace no 1 at Marikana, North West Province, South Africa. Subsequently, in July 2021, Tenova Pyromet has been awarded the contract for the detail design, supply and construction of the furnace crucible upgrade. The detail engineering and procurement phase is well underway, and the construction phase is due to start during the second quarter of 2022.Sibanye-Stillwater’s main objectives with the furnace upgrade are to further improve reliability, campaign life and availability in the long run.Tenova Pyromet’s innovative composite graphite-copper sidewall coolerswill be employed in the upgraded furnace sidewall. The design represents the next iteration of the reliable copper plate cooler design used on Furnace no. 2 combined with Tenova Pyromet’s composite graphite-copper MAXICOOL® high intensity coolers, successfully in operation on another PGM smelter. Tenova developed a patent that covers the use of graphite in combination with copper cooling to prevent the sulphide corrosion of the copper cooling elements in a furnace sidewall. The use of graphite helps to protect the copper cooler from the corrosion caused by free sulphur present in the furnace sidewall adjacent to the concentrate feed layer.
