Effect of Transport Phenomena on the Hydrogen Reduction of Cuprous Sulfide in the Presence of Lime

Direct hydrogen reduction of cuprous sulfide in the presence of lime is a method which has many advantages such as fewer operating stages and no SO2 pollution in comparison with the conventional methods to produce Cooper's metal. A mathematical model for simulation of the reaction is presented in this paper, which contains effects of structural changes and also non-isothermal reactions. In this model, mass and heat balance equations have been solved as functions of time and location to obtain concentration and temperature distribution in the pellet, and dusty gas model have been used to describe diffusion of the gas in the pellet. Mathematical equations in this model are the generalized grain model which has been applied to more than one reaction. Finally, the data predicted from the model have been compared with those determined experimentally. Temperature, quantity of lime, initial porosity of the pellet, and pellet diameter are parameters that are used to validate the model. In this research, the grain of lime was assumed to be porous and made up of non porous sub-grains. Results of the model had better agreement with experimental data by this assumption.