Present situation of GHP graphite electrode technology

At present, the technical conditions for developing and extruding large-size GHP graphite electrodes with Φ600~800mm are mature. In addition to Henan Kefeng Company, Fangda Carbon, Jilin Carbon, Kaifeng Carbon, Nantong Carbon, and Basan Carbon, etc. all have extruders over 35 MN, and has experience in the production of UHP graphite electrode manufacturing technology, can use short-process UHP graphite electrode production technology, that is, the use of high-efficiency baking furnace, LWG rapid graphitization furnace, high-precision machine tool and other advanced technical equipment can be completed within 45~60 days. Large scale Φ1200 mm or more vibration forming carbon electrodes and larger diameter graphite electrodes need to be completed in a cycle of 2~4 months, with a long cycle; vibration forming cannot produce anisotropic, homogeneous, high-density, high-strength, and high-conductive electrode products. Therefore, it integrates the existing mature high-quality graphite electrode manufacturers' first-class equipment, technology and other resources to produce GHP graphite electrodes, which saves social resources and can meet the ever-increasing technical needs of the market with quality and quantity.

1 Application of extrusion high-quality GHP graphite electrode smelting impact analysis on upstream and downstream industries

Extrusion of high-quality GHP graphite electrodes needs to be developed and produced according to the characteristics of different submerged arc furnace conditions. For example, the calcium carbide and ferroalloy industries need products with high flexural strength and good electrical conductivity; the abrasive industry needs products with good oxidation resistance; the yellow phosphorus industry needs products with high flexural strength; the industrial silicon industry needs products with high flexural strength and low ash content. Products; Correspondingly, graphite electrode manufacturers will put forward higher requirements for needle coke and modified pitch raw materials, and promote the upgrading of raw material supply product quality and technology. The application of extruded GHP graphite electrode smelting will have a significant impact on upstream and downstream industries, promote technological upgrades in related industries, and continue to innovate and circulate development.

2 Upstream needle coke and binder asphalt industry

The production of high quality extruded Φ600~800 mm GHP graphite electrode requires needle coke and binder asphalt raw material manufacturers to continuously improve the technical indicators of needle coke raw material in true density, strength, resistivity, CTE, ash content, etc.; continuously improve the technical indicators of binders asphalt raw materials in terms of softening point, QI, BI, coking value, viscosity, ash content, etc., to meet the production performance to adapt to the smelting needs of different smelting furnace with GHP graphite electrode, promote the smelting furnace industry in high power, large capacity, energy saving, emission reduction, safety, high efficiency, high quality varieties and other aspects of continuous innovation and development.

3 Downstream calcium carbide and ferroalloy smelting industry

Most of the calcium carbide and ferroalloy smelting industries still use self-baking electrode power supply, and self-baking electrode paste is a primary carbon product. According to our national energy saving and emission reduction policy, this production process should be a controlled development mode. Self-baking electrodes will have soft breakage, oil flow, segregation, hard breakage, cracks, falling blocks, overburning, suspended materials and other accidents in the production, especially soft disconnection and oil flow can cause fires and explosions, which directly threaten the safety of operators and equipment. At present, the industry is affected by environmental protection, energy saving and emission reduction, safety, cost and other aspects, most of the enterprises are hindered in operation, homogenization competition is fierce, and enterprise innovation and development are slow. If the new smelting technology method can be adopted and the three-phase multi-extruding GHP graphite electrode is laid out for power supply on the large smelting furnace, it will make a breakthrough in the aspects of high power rate, large capacity, energy saving and emission reduction, environmental protection, safe and efficient production of calcium carbide and ferroalloy smelting, and promote the technological upgrading and innovation development of enterprises. If the demonstration enterprise actively adopts new technology and methods for smelting, actively adjusts the production process to achieve rapid strengthening of smelting technology, and continuously improves the level of intelligent operation smelting technology, it will quickly achieve the strategic goal of “Made in China 2025”.

4 Downstream industrial silicon smelting industry

In the past, the complicated manufacturing process and high price of extruded Φ600~800mm large-size high-quality graphite electrodes have made industrial silicon manufacturers inclined to use large-size vibration molded electrodes instead of self-baking electrodes and made progress. With the policy guidance on energy conservation and emission reduction and the promotion of supply-side "quality revolution", the development model of high efficiency, low energy consumption, high quality and high safety will continue to become the goals pursued by entrepreneurs, and promote the smelting level of industrial silicon and smelting high-grade silicon to a higher level, the application of high-quality GHP graphite electrode will be the inevitable development trend.

5 Downstream yellow phosphorus smelting industry

The largest transformer capacity of the existing yellow phosphorus industry is 25 MW, and the designed annual output of yellow phosphorus is 10,000 tons. It has successfully adopted three-phase 6 of Φ700 mm regular graphite electrodes. This type of device has been generally accepted by the yellow phosphorus industry, and it operates normally and has good results. As early as 2006, Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group Co., Ltd., a leading yellow phosphorous enterprise, concluded: compared with the three-electrode electric furnace with the same capacity, all indicators are stable, safe and environmentally friendly, and the power consumption is 14,000 kW·h/t, down by 8.9% year-on-year, electrode consumption down by 31% year-on-year, and a single device saves more than 12 million yuan annually. This is only the effect of using three-phase 6  Φ600 mm regular graphite electrodes. At present, the yellow phosphorus industry only pays attention to the purchase of low-priced graphite electrodes and just requires that the electrode column does not break during smelting, which limits the improvement of the high-capacity smelting technology of more than 30,000 kVA. If the industry can deploy 6, 9, or 12 extruded Φ600~800 mm high-quality GHP graphite electrodes for large-capacity rapid intensified smelting, the overall cost will be greatly reduced.

6 Downstream abrasive smelting industry 

At present, RP/IP regular graphite electrodes are used for smelting. It only requires better oxidation resistance and no large dropouts. The capacity of the smelting transformer is still rotating at 10 000 kVA, which has failed to achieve large-capacity and high-efficiency production, energy saving, and emission reduction. Environmental protection is under tremendous pressure. If high-quality GHP electrodes can be used for technical upgrades, companies will gain huge benefits in high-power, large-capacity, high-efficiency, energy-saving, and safe and environmentally production. 

7 Conclusion

Developing extruded Φ600~800 mm large-size high-quality GHP graphite electrode, supporting the development of more than a new three-phase electrode arrangement arc furnace smelting method, new technology will provide a new way for submerged arc furnaces smelting at high power, large capacity, energy conservation, emissions reduction, safe and efficient production, etc. This method can enable enterprises to break traditional thinking, highlight technological innovation and increase profit space, which not only conforms to the national industrial policy and the "Made in China 2025" strategy, but also drives the technological upgrading and development of upstream and downstream enterprises, generating immeasurable comprehensive social and economic benefits and boosting the virtuous cycle development of green economy talk with us to get more related news.