Further supporting its China-based lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) battery strategy, Firebird Metals Ltd (ASX:FRB, OTC:FRBMF) has completed successful trials on its pilot-scale calcining kiln, with results outlining the potential to further reduce FRB’s low-cost profile.
Firebird reports that its self-developed electrical rotary kiln has demonstrated “remarkable” energy savings and a “groundbreaking” reduction in energy consumption.
Compared to conventional kilns, which typically require more than 300 kWh1 per tonne of feed, testing has found FRB’s pilot kiln to operate at only 80-100 kWh per tonne.
70% energy saving
This translates to a 70% energy saving, which translates to a cost reduction of US$30 per tonne of product, or 5% of total production costs.
This testing follows extensive internal trials and independent reports from Sunward — a leading producer of rotary tunnel kilns used in many chemical plants across China that co-funded the design of Firebird’s energy-saving calcining unit.
The pilot-scale calcining kiln was installed at Jinshi High-Tech Industrial Park in Jinshi, Hunan Province, China, the site of the company’s proposed Battery Grade High-Purity Manganese Sulphate Plant.
The kiln design is highly scalable and expected to deliver further energy savings as it moves from pilot to full-scale production due to economies of scale.
“Reducing already impressive cost profile”
“Our industry-leading sulphate technical team in China are always looking to improve our proposed production processes, with a strong focus on reducing our already impressive cost profile to produce high-purity manganese sulphate,” Firebird managing director Peter Allen said.
“The results from testing are very impressive and have demonstrated the exciting potential of the calcining kiln to move Firebird further down the cost curve and show the huge competitive advantages we continue to build by establishing operations in China.
“We will continue to progress this technology, with Sunward and Firebird expecting further energy savings on industrial production scale kiln. Both teams are also very excited by the potential use in a wide range of other industries.
“The high calibre of our development partners in China, including Sunward, reinforces our commitment and the robust in-country support we have in becoming a near-term, highly competitive cost producer of manganese sulphate.”
Firebird says it has already received inquiries from international and Chinese firms interested in adopting this energy-efficient solution for manganese-related processing.
A wide range of uses
FRB says that the kiln has potential uses in a wide range of mineral processing.
The company’s technical team has begun designing an electrical kiln tailored for higher temperature operations such as lithium spodumene processing, expanding the potential applications of this breakthrough technology.
Firebird has initiated the process to patent its innovative kiln technology internationally and lay the groundwork for commercialising the technology in China and beyond.