Kennecott Smokestack
Encyclopedia
The Kennecott Smokestack is a 1,215 ft. high (370.4 meter) smokestack west of Magna, Utah
, along SR-201
near the Great Salt Lake
. It was built in order to spread the exhaust gases far away from the area of the Kennecott smelter for copper
. In 1974, (the year it was completed), environmental rules were such that waste gases could be released in large quantities as long as they were diluted. At that time, up to 48,000 pounds per hour of sulfur dioxide
were released. The stack remains as a monument of that time and is still used to exhaust remaining gases after a thorough recovery/scrubbing
operation. In 1995, a much cleaner smelter of new design was built in cooperation with the Finnish
company: Outokumpu
. Only a few pounds per hour are now released. The company produces and sells approximately one million tons per year of sulfuric acid
made from the formerly released gas. The acid recovery plant was built by a division of Monsanto Company. This plant is also designed to recover waste heat from the process to produce electrical power.
The stack is 120 feet (36.6 m) in diameter at the bottom and rises directly from the ground. A large glass fiber reinforced plastic duct passes up the stack and carries gases to the top. The top can be accessed by a Swedish
-built elevator that crawls up a gear track on the inside surface. It takes 10 minutes to ascend the stack. Although the stack is not open to the public, those few who have been at the top are afforded a view of the Great Salt Lake and Oquirrh Mountain Range
.
The Kennecott Smokestack is the tallest free-standing structure west of the Mississippi River
, the fourth tallest smokestack in the world and the thirty-third tallest free-standing structure on earth.
Magna, Utah
Magna is a census-designated place and township in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. The population was 26,505 at the 2010 census, a moderate increase over the 2000 figure of 22,770...
, along SR-201
State Route 201 (Utah)
State Route 201 is an east–west expressway and freeway located in Salt Lake County in the U.S. state of Utah. Colloquially known as the 21st South Freeway, the route serves as an alternative to Interstate 80 through Salt Lake City...
near the Great Salt Lake
Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake, located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Utah, is the largest salt water lake in the western hemisphere, the fourth-largest terminal lake in the world. In an average year the lake covers an area of around , but the lake's size fluctuates substantially due to its...
. It was built in order to spread the exhaust gases far away from the area of the Kennecott smelter for copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
. In 1974, (the year it was completed), environmental rules were such that waste gases could be released in large quantities as long as they were diluted. At that time, up to 48,000 pounds per hour of sulfur dioxide
Sulfur dioxide
Sulfur dioxide is the chemical compound with the formula . It is released by volcanoes and in various industrial processes. Since coal and petroleum often contain sulfur compounds, their combustion generates sulfur dioxide unless the sulfur compounds are removed before burning the fuel...
were released. The stack remains as a monument of that time and is still used to exhaust remaining gases after a thorough recovery/scrubbing
Scrubber
Scrubber systems are a diverse group of air pollution control devices that can be used to remove some particulates and/or gases from industrial exhaust streams. Traditionally, the term "scrubber" has referred to pollution control devices that use liquid to wash unwanted pollutants from a gas stream...
operation. In 1995, a much cleaner smelter of new design was built in cooperation with the Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
company: Outokumpu
Outokumpu
Outokumpu is a group of companies headquartered in Espoo, Finland, aimed at stainless steel. The company has approx. 8 000 employees in about 30 different countries worldwide...
. Only a few pounds per hour are now released. The company produces and sells approximately one million tons per year of sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid is a strong mineral acid with the molecular formula . Its historical name is oil of vitriol. Pure sulfuric acid is a highly corrosive, colorless, viscous liquid. The salts of sulfuric acid are called sulfates...
made from the formerly released gas. The acid recovery plant was built by a division of Monsanto Company. This plant is also designed to recover waste heat from the process to produce electrical power.
The stack is 120 feet (36.6 m) in diameter at the bottom and rises directly from the ground. A large glass fiber reinforced plastic duct passes up the stack and carries gases to the top. The top can be accessed by a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
-built elevator that crawls up a gear track on the inside surface. It takes 10 minutes to ascend the stack. Although the stack is not open to the public, those few who have been at the top are afforded a view of the Great Salt Lake and Oquirrh Mountain Range
Oquirrh Mountains
The Oquirrh Mountains is a mountain range that run north-south for approximately 30 miles to form the west side of Utah's Salt Lake Valley, separating it from Tooele Valley. The range begins in northwest Utah County and stops at the south shore of the Great Salt Lake. The highest elevation is...
.
The Kennecott Smokestack is the tallest free-standing structure west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, the fourth tallest smokestack in the world and the thirty-third tallest free-standing structure on earth.
External links
- Kennecott Utah Copper
- A comparison with other large stacks of the world can be seen at skyscraperpage.