Graphite electrode application

Graphite electrode application

1. Used in electric arc steelmaking furnaces
 

Electric furnace steelmaking is a major user of graphite electrodes. Electric furnace steel production in my country accounts for about 18% of crude steel production, and graphite electrodes for steelmaking account for 70% to 80% of the total graphite electrode consumption. Electric furnace steelmaking uses graphite electrodes to introduce current into the furnace, and uses the high-temperature heat source generated by the arc between the electrode end and the charge for smelting.

2. Used in mineral heat electric furnaces
 

Mineral heat electric furnaces are mainly used to produce industrial silicon and yellow phosphorus. Its characteristics are that the lower part of the conductive electrode is buried in the charge, an arc is formed in the charge layer, and the heat energy generated by the charge's own resistance is used to heat the charge. Among them, mineral heat electric furnaces that require higher current density require graphite electrodes. For example, about 100 kg of graphite electrodes are consumed for every ton of silicon produced, and about 40 kg of graphite electrodes are consumed for every ton of yellow phosphorus produced.

3. Used in resistance furnaces
 

Graphitization furnaces for producing graphite products, melting furnaces for melting glass, and electric furnaces for producing silicon carbide are all resistance furnaces. The materials in the furnace are both heating resistors and heated objects. Usually, the graphite electrodes for conducting electricity are embedded in the furnace head wall at the end of the resistance furnace, and the graphite electrodes used here are not continuously consumed.

4. Used to prepare special-shaped graphite products
 

The graphite electrode blanks are also used to process into various special-shaped graphite products such as crucibles, molds, and heating elements. For example, in the quartz glass industry, 10 tons of graphite electrode blanks are required for the production of 1 ton of electric melting tubes; 100 kg of graphite electrode blanks are required for the production of 1 ton of quartz bricks.