PROCESS AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE TREATMENT OF LOADS OR RESIDUES OF NON-FERROUS METALS AND THEIR ALLOWS

Process and equipment for the treatment of loads or residues of non-ferrous metals and their alloys including the steps of loading of scraps or dross to be processed; heating the load (29) and melting the metal; revolving the heated load (29), tapping the molten metal and emptying the cavity (28) of the furnace, being the heating up of the load (29) or residues (23) to a temperature above the melting temperature of the metal or non-ferrous alloy to be recovered carried out by means of a free burning convective arc which is independent from the supply of external gas to the process, and which may dispense with the use of melting salts. The equipment for process application has the following characteristics: it comprises a closed vessel (1) which has a revolution axis around which it may be rotated or simply submitted to oscillating movement; offers the possibility of the revolution axis of the vessel (1) to rest in a horizontal position or to be tilted above and below said plane; to be heated by means of a free burning convectice arc, self-stabilized and generated by a continuous current electric discharge which, as a function of the adjustment of the tilting angle of the rotation axis of the vessel (1) and the amount of material therein fed, may be established between one single electrode (3) introduced into the furnace (1) and the load fed (29) therein or the bottom wall of the vessel (1) built of electrically conductive material (15); said electrode (3) to operate as a cathode and to be introduced through the vessel door (2), preferably according to an eccentric or inclined axis positioned above the rotation axis of the furnace (1), and which may be displaced along its axis for arc length adjustment.