Award certificate. [Photo/Jinchuan Group Nickel and Cobalt Co]
Jinchuan Group Nickel and Cobalt Co Ltd Nickel Smelter recently achieved a significant milestone: its self‑developed "combined defoaming device" won a gold award at the 50th International Convention on Quality Control Circles (ICQCC), marking the group's first gold at this top‑tier international quality event. The award was selected from over 1,000 entries submitted by teams from more than 10 countries and regions worldwide.
During the secondary atmospheric leaching process in nickel‑cobalt smelting, chemical reactions and air injection generate excessive foam, which can cause high‑temperature acidic solution to splash out, posing safety risks. The industry has traditionally used organic defoaming agents, but this approach presents a dilemma: excessive amounts can impair electrolyte purity, while insufficient amounts fail to control foam effectively.
To address this long‑standing industry challenge, the nickel smelter established a dedicated quality control team in early 2023. The 10-member team innovatively proposed a combined chemical-mechanical defoaming approach. By integrating the uniform spraying principle of atomizing nozzles with the efficient shearing mechanism of mechanical stirring, the team developed a combined device consisting of a "jacketed atomizing nozzle" and a "multi‑tooth defoaming stirrer".
The device not only reduces the consumption of defoaming agents — thereby improving the grade rate of nickel sulfate solution — but also eliminates the safety hazard of foam overflow, achieving a dual breakthrough in both safety and quality, and providing a referential "Chinese solution" for the global industry in addressing similar technical challenges.
