| Abstract Scope |
This paper introduces a new silicothermic process, compound-vertical-retort technology for magnesium production. It solves problems such as low mechanization, low productivity, short retort service life, high heat-resistant steel consumption, low magnesium yield, adhesion and glaze, poor furnace temperature uniformity, large heat losses, high carbon emissions and poor working environment, etc. A 1200 t/a Demonstration Plant has been built to demonstrate this technology. Ceramic-lined steel retort solved the problem of ‘adhesion and glaze’, with mechanical slag releasing; 99.8% Magnesium metal purity has been achieved via new compound magnesium crystallizer with radiation heating surface and sectional crystallization. Waste heat is recovered by a boiler for high-temperature slag for further saving energy and decreasing the CO2 emission. New dual-regenerative furnace was developed to realize temperature uniformity, to further improve combustion efficiency and heat efficiency. this new technology’s economic and technical indices are significantly better than that of the Pidgeon process. |