In the industrial chain of copper resource recycling, the rotary furnace (anode furnace), as the core
equipment, realizes the efficient transformation from low-grade copper scrap to high-purity copper
anode. In this article, we will analyze the working principle, technical advantages and industrial
application value of the rotary furnace to provide professional reference for practitioners in
related fields.
Rotary furnace technology: the core process of copper scrap
purification
The rotary furnace, also known as anode furnace, is a highly efficient melting equipment designed for
copper scrap with a copper content of more than 92%. Its core function is to complete the melting,
refining and casting through an integrated process, and finally produce anode copper sheet with 99%
purity. This process successfully fills the industry gap that low-grade copper scrap cannot be directly
used for refining, and raises the resource utilization rate to a new height.
The equipment adopts modular design and contains six core systems:
Rotating furnace system: the specially designed cylinder structure ensures that the material is evenly heated.
Intelligent temperature control system: precisely control the melting temperature range of 1200-1300℃.
Multi-stage combustion device: support liquefied petroleum gas/natural gas/diesel fuel switching
Dynamic refining system: realizes precise control of redox reaction.
Environmental protection treatment module: integrated flue gas waste heat recovery and pollutant treatment function.
Automated casting unit: direct output of standardized anode copper plate
Technological breakthroughs: three innovations to realize
high-efficiency production
1. Rotary dynamic melting technology
The furnace body is designed with 15-30° inclination angle and rotates at a variable speed of 0.5-2r/min to
make full contact between molten metal and refining agent. Compared with the traditional fixed melting
furnace, the metal yield is increased by 3-5 percentage points and the energy consumption is reduced by
about 20%.
2. Graded combustion control system
The innovative combustion management system realizes graded fuel supply:
Main combustion zone: Maintains the basic melting temperature
Auxiliary heating zone: compensation of heat losses
Refining zone: precise control of the redox environment.
The system reduces the energy consumption to 120-150 kg of standard fuel per ton of copper, and is suitable for
flexible capacity requirements of 1-20 t/batch.
3. Compound refining process
Combined processes such as nitrogen-based refining and molten salt refining have been developed for different
raw material characteristics:
Oxidized slagging is used when the sulfur content is >0.1%.
Reduction refining is activated when the oxygen content exceeds the standard.
Directional slagging agent is used for metal impurity treatment
Through the combination of processes, the removal rate of lead, tin and other impurities can be increased to
more than 98%.
Industry application: building a green recycling system for copper
resources
The rotary furnace technology has shown its unique value in many fields:
Recycled copper smelting: handling raw materials such as dismantled copper from electrical appliances
(92-95% Cu) and copper wire scrap (95-97% Cu).
Copper Processing Scrap Recycling: Smelting of low-grade materials such as copper processing chips and turning scrap.
Anode copper preparation: direct output of anode copper plate (Cu≥99%) in line with YS/T 789 standards
Precious metal enrichment: Enrichment and recovery of gold, silver and other precious metals in the smelting process.
Typical production data shows:
Single furnace capacity: 1-20 tons (customizable)
Copper anode purity: 99.0-99.4%
Metal recovery rate: ≥97.5%
Energy consumption level: 120-180kgce/tCu
Operation cycle: 4-8 hours/batch
Equipment Selection Guide: Five Key Considerations
Adaptability of raw materials
It is recommended to select the furnace speed, heating power and other parameters according to the physical
form (lump/crumb), chemical composition (type and content of impurities), moisture content and other
indicators of the material to be processed.
Fuel Economy
Natural gas: suitable for areas with strict environmental requirements
Liquefied natural gas: preferred for small and medium scale
Diesel: more economical for batches over 5 tons.
Full-cycle costing is required in conjunction with local energy prices.
Environmental Configuration
Recommended configuration:
Secondary combustion chamber (for CO)
Bag filter (dust capture >99%)
Acute cooling desulfurization tower (SO₂＜100mg/m³)
Waste heat boiler (30-40% heat recovery)
Degree of automation
Intelligent control system should be available:
PID regulation of furnace temperature
Oxygen potential real-time monitoring
Charging speed linkage
Safety interlock protection
Refractory material selection
The working layer is recommended:
Melting pool area: magnesium-chromium bricks (erosion-resistant)
Slag line zone: corundum mullite bricks
Gas phase zone: high aluminum castables
The overall life can reach 300-500 furnace times.
Future development direction
With the advancement of double carbon strategy, the rotary furnace technology is being upgraded in
three major directions:
Hydrogen fuel combustion system development
Digital twin control platform development
Rare earth elements synergistic recovery technology
It is expected that by 2025, the new generation of equipment will realize the technological breakthrough of
15% reduction in energy consumption and 99% recovery rate.
As the “heart equipment” of modern copper smelting, the rotary furnace is rewriting the rules of the game
in the recycled metal industry through continuous technological innovation. Its high efficiency, environmental
protection and intelligent technical characteristics not only enhance the efficiency of resource utilization,
but also provide a reliable technical support for the construction of a zero-waste recycling economic
system. With process optimization and equipment iteration, this technology will certainly play a more
important role in the global green metallurgy field.