Manufacture

Anthracite, petroleum coke and pitch are the main raw materials for the manufacturing of cathode blocks. The raw materials supplied to Novosibirsk Electrode Plant are stored indoors according to their grades and separately from other types of raw materials. All raw materials pass the entry tests against quality requirements.

Graphite as one of the most important components of cathode blocks is produced locally at the plant, which guarantees high quality of this material and stability of its parameters.

BATCHING

According to the mix design, the selected fractions are dosed by weight from the graded bunkers into the cart hopper, and the collected charge portion is shot into mixers’ receiving hoppers.

Pitch batching is performed according to mixing formula by putting weight portions into a dosing tank and its subsequent discharge into mixers.

MIXING

Mixing of dry components with the binding pitch is performed in heated mixers.

Applied mixing technology allows to receive the homogeneity of the mix, which ensures the good structure of the block.

BILLET MOLDING

Molding of cathode blocks can be performed by both extrusion and vibropress methods depending on buyer’s request or product specification.

Green cathodes are exposed to baking in multi-chamber gas-heated Riedhammer kilns at the temperature of 1250 C. Baking cycle is fully automatic and lasts 400-450 hours.

In order to produce cathode blocks in grade N-4 the billets are exposed to graphitization process.

Graphitization is conducted in Castner longitudinal graphitization furnaces. at temperature up to 3000 C.

Machining of cathode blocks is performed on the fully automatic line providing high accuracy in design and geometry. Maximum length of machinable units is 3700 mm.

Each production stage ends up with strict quality monitoring whereas machining stage (final step of production) is followed up with 100% quality control of each cathode block. Every block is marked with its unique ID number.

Cathode blocks at Novosibirsk Electrode Plant are securely packed for long distance multi-modal transportation.

Seaworthy packaging: each cathode block is wrapped in polyethylene film, stuffed into wooden crates, fastened with steel bands and placed onto wooden pallets.

By buyer’s request light packaging can be arranged.

Process of anthracite gas or electrical calcination in a calciner

Batching of burden constituents (thermoanthracite, commercial graphite) in an automatic batching capsule

Mixing of burden constituents (thermoanthracite, coal-tar pitch, commercial graphite) in a mixing machine

Feed of ready burden to a forming drum to produce briquetted paste

Premium quality calcined coke is crushed, screened, and hot-blended with pitch in controlled proportions. The green mixture of coke and pitch is extruded through a forming press (1600 – 6300 mt) creating so-called green electrodes.

Green electrodes are baked at temperature of up to 1000 C in specially designed, computer-controlled furnaces. It takes 3 – 4 weeks of baking to coke the pitch and remove volatiles from electrodes.

Baked electrodes are impregnated with pitch in autoclaves to provide higher density, mechanical strength, and electrical conductivity. This process can be repeated several times for the production of connecting pins. Impregnated electrodes are rebaked at 750 C to carbonize the pitch and remove remaining volatiles. 

During the last stage of production electrodes and connecting pins are machined to exact dimensions. Connecting pins and sockets are threaded to assure optimal electrode-pin joint.

Energoprom Group provides its customers with expertise in reliable and efficient supply of graphite electrodes. We deliver products around the World and deliver to your doors if necessary!

Anthracite, petroleum coke and pitch are the main raw materials for the manufacturing of carbon electrodes. The raw materials supplied to Novosibirsk Electrode Plant are stored indoors according to their grades and separately from other types of raw materials. All raw materials pass the entry tests against quality requirements.

Graphite — as one of the most important components of carbon electrodes is produced locally at the plant, which guarantees high quality of this material and stability of its parameters.

Pre-crushed anthracite is either gas calcined or electrically calcined depending on further product application. Gas calcination is performed in rotary baking furnaces. Electrically calcined anthracite is produced in electirc calciners at tempreture 1600–1800 C.

BATCHING

According to the mix design, the selected fractions are dosed by weight from the graded bunkers into the cart hopper, and the collected charge portion is shot into mixers' receiving hoppers.

Pitch batching is performed according to mixing formula by putting weight portions into a dosing tank and its subsequent discharge into mixers.

MIXING

Mixing of dry components with the binding pitch is performed in heated mixers.

Applied mixing technology allows to receive the homogeneity of the mix, which ensures the good structure of the electrode.

BILLET MOLDING

The billets of carbon electrodes are pressed into molds, using vacuum degassing system. The billet molding occurs as a result of mixture compression caused by vibration (vibropressing) and under pressure.

Baked electrodes are checked with ultrasonic non-destructive method, specially developed by Energoprom R&D Center. This method allows to visualize the inner structure of the entire electrode body and identify all kinds of inner defects if any. From this stage only approved pieces go to further manufacturing process.

Machining of blank carbon electrodes is performed on the fully automatic line providing high accuracy in geometry.

Each production stage ends up with strict quality monitoring whereas machining stage (final step of production) is followed up with 100% quality control of each carbon electrode. Every electrode is marked with its unique ID number.

Carbon electrodes at Novosibirsk Electrode Plant are securely packed for long distance multi-modal transportation.

Seaworthy packaging: each carbon electrode is wrapped in polyethylene film, stuffed into wooden crates, fastened with steel bands, protected at both ends with plywood shields and placed onto wooden pallets,

By buyer's request light packaging can be arranged.