On December 10, 2023, 2 sets of VPSA oxygen plants (5556Nm³/h, 90%) built by PKU Pioneer for Gansu Jinchuan Group were successfully started up to provide stable oxygen for nickel flash smelting furnace and copper synthesis furnace.
As a smelting furnace that intensifies production with high productivity and low energy consumption, powdered materials that fully contact with oxygen in the furnace heat up to support the smelting process. China's first nickel flash furnace was built and put into operation at Jinchuan Group. Flash furnace requires low oxygen pressure. In the project, oxygen gas manufactured by the VPSA oxygen equipment is introduced into the oxygen pipeline network (20KPa) of the flash furnace and synthesis furnace. By substituting the 99.6% oxygen from the cryogenic unit for the smelting in other sections, a part of oxygen production capacity can be released.
Initially, the construction of new projects and the production capacity addition of smelting systems placed new demands on the oxygen supply, whereas the current oxygen generation system could not meet the requirements for its production. In addition, the cryogenic air separation unit usually takes 2 years to be in operation, therefore, the VPSA oxygen unit became the superior solution for Jinchuan Group's project team with a shorter construction period, higher safety and lower energy consumption. After completion, it could effectively help to meet the shortfall of oxygen supply and enhance the peak regulation capability in emergencies of the whole oxygen supply system as well as its economic performance.
The project started construction on August 15, and was originally planned to be completed and put into production in March 2024. To meet the production needs with the least possible delay, PKU Pioneer project team and Jinchuan Group took multiple measures such as jointly optimizing the implementation plan, clarifying the division of labor and refining the management to shorten the construction period and accelerate the progress. Eventually, on December 10th, the oxygen system was put into operation, which provided an adequate guarantee for the customer's production capacity increase and expansion.
During the construction period, PKU Pioneer not only worked closely with relevant units in engineering construction and equipment installation but also carefully arranged the debugging. As a result, the oxygen generation plant was put into operation ahead of schedule and broke the industry record of 6 months for the construction of a same-scale oxygen unit. PKU Pioneer's professional and efficient project construction capability was therefrom highly recognized and praised by the user.
PKU Pioneer’s first VPSA oxygen plant at an altitude of over 2800m used for oxygen-enriched combustion of lead, copper and antimony kilns is the most elevated among the medium and large industrial VPSA oxygen plants in China. Accounting for 50% among the total projects, PKU Pioneer's set up nearly 100 sets of VPSA oxygen generators widely used in melting non-ferrous metals, including lead, zinc, copper, gold, etc.
By supplying economic and stable oxygen source for oxygen-enriched bottom blowing, top blowing, side blowing, flash and other smelting furnaces for, PKU Pioneer helped the users to significantly improve the energy efficiency of their production systems to achieve energy saving, smelting reinforcement and benefit enhancement. As the VPSA and PSA oxygen production processes continue to improve, the application of VPSA oxygen technology in non-ferrous metallurgy is becoming increasingly common, with remarkable benefits and high economic efficiency, it has now become the preferred oxygen production process in the non-ferrous metal industry.
