Darren Shell Email & Phone Number

Developed practical mass and energy balance applications used to improve smelting of spent auto and industrial catalysts in Plasma Arc furnaces, followed by upgrading in Top-Blown Rotary Converters.Optimised temperature control of the Plasma Arc furnaces by calculating the coke demand of the process based on moisture levels of the various feed materials.Developed a lime fluxing control regime for the Plasma Arc furnace process based on the Al2O3 and SiO2 composition of the… Show more Developed practical mass and energy balance applications used to improve smelting of spent auto and industrial catalysts in Plasma Arc furnaces, followed by upgrading in Top-Blown Rotary Converters.Optimised temperature control of the Plasma Arc furnaces by calculating the coke demand of the process based on moisture levels of the various feed materials.Developed a lime fluxing control regime for the Plasma Arc furnace process based on the Al2O3 and SiO2 composition of the various feed materials. Show less

Rustenburg, North-West, South Africa

Contracted to Anglo Platinum as Technical Specialist for their Top Submerged Lance (“TSL”) converting plant. Work includes development of mass and energy balance process models to improve process control and safe operating systems.

Port Pirie

Contracted to Nyrstar Port Pirie (Pty) Ltd for 1 year as Technical Specialist for the new Top Submerged Lance (“TSL”) furnace and acid plant, commissioned under the AUD$560m Port Pirie Transformation Project. Work includes development of process models and control system, start-up planning, design development and writing of training manuals to assist with operator training.

Johannesburg Area, South Africa

Contracted to Bright Refining (Pty) Ltd as Plant Manager of a dedicated toll smelting plant, processing up to 6 tonne per day of copper sulphide matte to produce blister copper and recover gold.

Contracted to Ausmelt Ltd as Site Services Engineer, providing process and commissioning support, technical services and training to clients in the operation of Top Submerged Lance furnaces.

Implementation of the new US$175m converting furnace and acid plant at Anglo Platinum’s Waterval Smelter, Rustenburg, South Africa. This is a large Ausmelt furnace treating 60 tph of nickel copper matte to produce a low iron high-grade matte for Platinum Group Metals recovery.

Increasingly involved in process development for new applications of Ausmelt’s Top Submerged Lance Technology. Smelting processes for copper, nickel, lead, zinc, Platinum Group Metals and waste treatment industries were developed.

M.Sc.E., Master Of Engineering Science, Extractive Metallurgy

Activities and Societies: G.K. Williams Cooperative Research Centre for Extractive Metallurgy Aluminium dross treatment with the use.

B.E.(Chem), Bachelor Of Engineering (With Honours), Chemical Engineering