Zinc Production Powered by Geothermal Energy

Abstract

A geothermally powered zinc production subsystem includes a geothermal system with a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir. A hopper receives a sphalerite ore that is crushed and provided to a flotation tank. The flotation tank is heated by a heat transfer fluid heated by the geothermal system, and a product of the flotation tank is used to prepare zinc.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A geothermally powered zinc production system, comprising:
 a geothermal system comprising a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir, the wellbore configured to heat a heat transfer fluid via heat transfer with the underground magma reservoir, thereby forming heated heat transfer fluid;   a hopper comprising a vessel configured to receive a sphalerite ore and direct the received sphalerite ore through a crusher;   the crusher configured to crush at least a portion of the sphalerite ore directed therethrough, thereby forming crushed sphalerite ore;   a flotation tank configured to:
 receive at least a portion of the crushed sphalerite ore and flotation reagents; 
 suspend the received crushed sphalerite ore and received flotation reagents in a slurry; and 
 heat the slurry via heat transfer with the heated heat transfer fluid, thereby forming a froth comprising zinc sulfide; and 
   a roaster configured to:
 receive at least a portion of the froth produced by the flotation tank; and 
 heat the received froth via heat transfer with the heated heat transfer fluid, thereby causing the zinc sulfide to convert to zinc oxide. 
   
     
     
         2 . The geothermally powered zinc production system of  claim 1 , wherein the flotation tank comprises:
 one or more heat exchangers configured to heat the slurry via heat transfer with the heated heat transfer fluid;   a mixer configured to agitate the slurry;   an air intake configured to inject air into the slurry; and   a waste collection reservoir positioned within or proximate to the flotation tank, configured to receive at least a portion of a byproduct.   
     
     
         3 . The geothermally powered zinc production system of  claim 1 , wherein the roaster comprises:
 one or more heat exchangers configured to heat the froth received from the flotation tank via heat transfer with the heated heat transfer fluid; and   one or more conveyors configured to transport the froth through the roaster.   
     
     
         4 . The geothermally powered zinc production system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more geothermally powered motors configured to use the heated heat transfer fluid to perform mechanical operations, wherein the one or more geothermally powered motors are configured to perform one or more of:
 moving the sphalerite ore through the hopper;   rotating the crushers;   rotating a mixer in the flotation tank; and   driving a conveyor to move the zinc sulfide through the roaster.   
     
     
         5 . The geothermally powered zinc production system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more heat exchangers configured to circulate the heated heat transfer fluid, wherein the one or more heat exchangers are configured to perform one or more of:
 heating the flotation tank; and   heating the roaster.   
     
     
         6 . A method, comprising:
 heating, using a geothermal system comprising a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir, a heat transfer fluid via heat transfer with the underground magma reservoir, thereby forming heated heat transfer fluid;   directing, using a hopper, a sphalerite ore through a crusher;   crushing, using the crusher, at least a portion of the sphalerite ore directed therethrough, thereby forming crushed sphalerite ore;   receiving, by a flotation tank, at least a portion of the crushed sphalerite ore and flotation reagents;   suspending the received crushed sphalerite ore and received flotation reagents in a slurry held in the flotation tank;   heating the slurry in the flotation tank via heat transfer with the heated heat transfer fluid, thereby forming a froth comprising zinc sulfide;   receiving, by a roaster, at least a portion of the froth produced by the flotation tank; and   heating, in the roaster, the received froth via heat transfer with the heated heat transfer fluid, thereby causing the zinc sulfide to convert to zinc oxide.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein producing the froth further comprises:
 heating the slurry with one or more heat exchangers via heat transfer with the heated heat transfer fluid;   agitating the slurry;   injecting air into the slurry; and   receiving at least a portion of a byproduct in a waste collection reservoir.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein heating the froth in the roaster further comprises:
 heating the froth with one or more heat exchangers via heat transfer with the heated heat transfer fluid; and   transporting the froth via one or more conveyors through the roaster.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising using one or more geothermally powered motors powered by the heated heat transfer fluid, wherein the one or more geothermally powered motors are configured to perform one or more of:
 moving the sphalerite ore through the hopper;   rotating the crusher;   rotating a mixer in the flotation tank; and   driving a conveyor to move the zinc sulfide through the roaster.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising causing one or more heat exchangers to use the heated heat transfer fluid to heat a fluid, thereby producing a heated fluid, wherein the heated fluid supplies heat for one or more of:
 heating the flotation tank; and   heating the roaster.