Real anode temperature measuring

摘要

The baking quality of carbon anodes in aluminium production industry has a significant impact on the efficiency of smelting proceB which is highly energy-intensive. Underbaking or overbaking of the anodes is ongoing with substantial loBes and / or troubles in the electrolysis due to unstable proceB conditions. Consequently, a highly controlled baking proceB is a guarantee for stable and desirable anode properties as well for the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly operation. An optimal anode baking proceB is mainly driven by correctly adapting the baking curve with the target to reach the specified final anode temperature, smoothly. Therefore, it is important to know the anodes temperature for fine-tuning the baking proceB. Occasionally, the proof of the final anode temperature is done by the so-called ‘Equivalent Temperature’ method that is quite complex and time-intensive, although it is only able to reflect the finally reached temperatures, and no temperature profile can be detected over the long baking proceB. However, it is of highest interest for baking furnace technology providers as well as primary aluminium producers to have a real anode temperature method available to optimize the running facilities with the output to maximize anode quality, homogeneity and operational effectiveneB, as well as design verification purposes and further system developments. This paper proposes an established measuring procedure to receive the real anode temperature which is currently not poBible with other state-of-the-art methods. The technical background and feasibility of the proposed procedure are described, and its resulting data are compared with the most common measuring procedures in this industry based on their accuracy and informative values. The investigations result in a clearly specified measuring method that has been verified in the field, became an in-house method as part of baking furnace performance tests, meanwhile is widely used for proceB analysis and consequential proceB optimizations.