The raw coke with different size will be stocked in different silo and they will be sent to the mixing and kneading system via the dosing system base on the suitable proportion. The mixed coke and will be preheated and mixed with the pitch in the preheater tank and then sent to the keanding tank. The paste material will be sent to the cooler tank after keanding sufficiently.
We recommend to use the vertical stamping horizontal press machine to undertake the green electrode forming work. Each press machine has two separate chambers. The vertical chamber for stamping is designed to ensure the materials are distributed very evenly. After stamping enough, the materials will be sent to the horizontal chamber for extruding.
Prominer has the ability to provide wide range of technological solutions for primary & secondary baking. Since baking and rebaking has different temperature and fire cycle as for electrodes as for pins , its possible to adopt alternative furnace and kiln types based on customer requirements. Pit-ring Furnace and car bottom furnace (CBF) can handle bakeing and rebaking work. Tunnel furnace is suitable to do rebaking work. Due to the higher cost of natural gas in China, most of the electrode manufacturer choose pit-ring furnace for primary baking and tunnel furnace for seond baking.
High-pressure impregnation of once-baked graphite electrode products to reduce the porosity and increase the bulk density. The hot-in and cold-out type impregnation system is the most popular design in China. The whole system inlcude preheating furnaces, imparegnation tanks, transportation flat cars. The primary baked graphite electrode products are hoisted into the electrode frame on the electric flat car on the horizontal conveying car by the crane, and then sent into the preheating furnace by the electric flat car for preheating. And then the preheated electrode will be transported out of the preheating furnace and sent to the high-pressure impregnation tank for high-pressure impregnation.
Graphitization is the process of heating amorphous carbon for a prolonged period of time, rearranging the atomic structure to achieve an ordered crystalline structure that is typical of solids. During graphitization, carbon atoms are rearranged to fill atom vacancies and improve atom layout. The lengwise graphitization (LWG) furnace is the priority choice for undertaking the graphitization work for UHP electrode. For hanlding the pin or special graphite, the Acheson (AC) furnace should be considered.
Graphite electrodes play a key role in a variety of industrial applications, especially in the production of steel and other metals or alloys. This guide will explore everything you need to know about graphite electrodes, from their types and manufacturing processes to their benefits, uses, pricing trends, and more.
A graphite electrode is cylindrically structured refractory conductive material made of graphite. It is primarily used in electric arc furnaces to produce steel by melting scrap metal. These electrodes are essential in a variety of metallurgical processes due to their excellent electrical conductivity and resistance to high temperatures.
There are three main types of graphite electrodes, each suitable for a specific application:
UHP Graphite Electrodes (Ultra High Power): UHP electrodes are used in ultra-high power electric arc furnaces and have a lower electrical resistance to withstand higher temperatures, primarily for melting steel.
HP Graphite Electrodes (High Power): These electrodes are used in a variety of applications that require moderate power levels. They offer a good balance between cost and performance.
RP Graphite Electrodes (Conventional Power): RP electrodes are the most commonly used type. They are suitable for applications that do not require the extreme performance of UHP or HP electrodes, such as smelting silicon, ferroalloys and yellow phosphorus.
The production of graphite electrodes involves several key steps:
Raw material selection: Select high-quality petroleum coke, needle coke and asphalt as the main raw materials.
Mixing: Aggregates and binders are evenly mixed to form a paste
Molding: The paste is then molded into cylindrical electrodes by molding, extrusion and other methods.
Baking: The molded electrodes are baked at high temperature and isolated from air to have a uniform structure.
Impregnation: In an autoclave, the impregnant is penetrated into the pores of the product under certain temperature and pressure conditions to improve performance
Graphitization: The baked electrode is subjected to higher temperatures (up to °C) in a furnace to convert it into graphite carbon.
Processing: Finally, the electrode is processed to precise specifications to meet its intended use.
Graphite electrodes have several key characteristics:
Low resistance: Enables efficient electrical conduction and reduces energy costs.
High density: Reduces oxidation rate at high temperatures
High flexural strength: Provides durability and resistance to mechanical stress.
Low coefficient of thermal expansion: Minimizes dimensional changes when heated, improving performance.
Easy to process: Facilitates customization for specific applications.
Benefits of graphite electrodes include:
Efficiency in high temperature applications: They can withstand extreme temperatures without oxidation.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Tiantian.
Versatility: Suitable for a variety of arc furnace metallurgical processes.
Cost-effectiveness: Their longevity and performance reduce operating costs.
Graphite electrodes are primarily used in:
Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF): Used for steelmaking and melting scrap metal.
Refining Ladle Furnaces: Used for secondary steel refining.
Submerged Arc Furnaces: Used for the production of ferroalloys and other metals.
Resistance Furnaces: Produce silicon carbide, glass, etc.
The price of graphite electrodes fluctuates based on raw material costs, demand, and market trends. The current price is between US$1,900 and US$2,500 per ton.
Graphite Electrode Market Trends
The graphite electrode market is influenced by the following factors:
Steel productivity: Increased steel production leads to an increase in demand for graphite electrodes.
Technological Advances: Innovations in electrode manufacturing affect supply and pricing.
Graphite electrodes are indispensable conductive electrodes in metallurgical casting. Their unique properties such as low electrical resistance, high flexural strength and excellent thermal stability make them the first choice for high-temperature applications in electric arc furnace steelmaking and other industrial processes.
What is the HS code for graphite electrodes?
The Harmonized System (HS) code for graphite electrodes is generally ..
What is the graphite electrode consumption?
Electrode consumption varies with current density, typically between 0.8 and 2 kg per ton of steel.
Why do graphite electrodes need to be replaced regularly?
Due to thermal and mechanical stresses, they oxidize over time and therefore need to be replaced regularly to ensure efficiency.
Why are graphite electrodes used in electrolysis?
Their excellent electrical conductivity and thermal stability make them ideal for electrolysis applications.
Graphite Electrodes vs. Carbon Electrodes:
Graphite electrodes are generally superior to conventional carbon electrodes due to their lower electrical resistance and higher thermal stability.
Contact information:
:
: