Abstract:
This aim at using locally source raw materials to develop a miniature laboratory sintering
machine that have optimum capacity to sinter different types of ore concentrates below the sintering temperature of 1500 oC has been fabricated. The creation of a new engineering project started from the formation of ideas, through developmental stages of the design with the use of AUTOCAD, down to the end product. The fabrication of this work involves selection of appropriate materials for the fabrication of the charging hopper with a dimension of 500 mm x 600 mm x 400 mm x 400 mm at the base, fabrication of the square shaped sintering pot with a dimension of 400 mm x 400 mm with kaolin clay (refractory) used in lining the wall of the sintering pot. The heating filament and thermocouple were attached to the walls of the sintering pot to generate heat and temperature sensing device, constantine wire which works within the temperature range of 0 oC to 2000 oC was used for sensing. Filament were connected in parallel
in order to produce moderate heat for the sintering than when they were connected in series while the sensing device was connected to the thermocouple which displayed the temperature range inside the furnace with the calibration of 10 oC representing 100 oC. The suction machine (vacuum cleaner) with pipe attached was connected to the bottom of the sintering pot for the air to be drawn through the ore concentrate. The fabricated ore sintering machine was used to sinter nickel ore concentrate that has melting Temperature of 1452 oC and the sintering process was done successfully. The result of the cost analysis showed that the locally fabricated sintering machine have comparative cost (₦158,000 - ₦200,000) advantage over the imported counterpart (₦2,000,000 – ₦4,000,000).
