How To Avoid Graphite Electrode Consumption in Electric Furnace Steelmaking

 The consumption of graphite electrodes is mainly related to the quality of the electrodes themselves, but also to the steelmaking operation and process (e.g. current density through the electrodes, smelting steel grade, scrap quality and lumpiness, duration of oxygen blowing, etc.).

 Consumption includes the sublimation of graphite material due to the high temperature of the arc and the loss of the electrode tip due to the chemical reaction with the molten steel and slag, and the electrode tip consumption is also related to the insertion of an electrode into the molten steel to increase the carbonization.

 In recent years, in order to increase the smelting rate of the electric furnace, oxygen blowing operation is often used, which leads to an increase in the oxidation loss of the electrode. Generally, the oxidized loss on the outer surface of the electrode accounts for about 50% of the total consumption of the electrode.

 Electrodes are used continuously until a small section of the electrode or connector (i.e., the remnant) at the connection between the upper and lower electrodes tends to fall out and increase consumption.

 These three types of electrode losses are collectively referred to as mechanical losses, where the cause of electrode breakage and dislodgement is a point of contention between the steelmaker and the graphite electrode producer in determining the quality of the incident, as it may be due to problems with the quality and processing of the graphite electrodes (especially the electrode joints), or problems with the operation of the steelmaking process.

 EF steel mills generally refer to unavoidable electrode consumption such as oxidation and sublimation at high temperatures as "net consumption", and "net consumption" plus mechanical losses such as breakage and residual losses as "gross consumption". Gross consumption". At present, the graphite electrode consumption per ton of EF steel is 1.5~6kg, and in the process of steel smelting, the electrode is gradually oxidized and consumed to become conical, and the taper of the electrode and the reddening of the electrode torso are the intuitive ways to measure the antioxidant capacity of graphite electrode during steel making process.

(1) Select the appropriate type and diameter of electrode according to the capacity of the furnace and the capacity of the transformer provided.

(2) During loading and unloading of graphite electrode and storage, pay attention to preventing touching and dampness, the damp electrode should be dried by the furnace and then used, and the joint holes of the electrode and the surface threads of the joints should be protected when lifting and transporting.

(3) When connecting the electrode, blow off the dust in the connector hole with compressed air, and screw the connector into the connector hole of the electrode with smooth and even force, and the tightening torque should be in accordance with the regulations. When clamping the electrode, avoid the connector area, i.e., clamp above or below the bottom of the electrode connector hole.

(4) When loading charge into the furnace, in order to minimize the impact on the electrode when the charge collapses, large pieces of charge should be loaded near the bottom of the furnace, and be careful not to make a large number of non-conducting materials, such as lime, gathered directly under the electrode.

(5) melting period is the most likely to produce electrode fracture time, when the melt pool just formed, the furnace material began to slide down the collapse, the electrode is easy to be broken, so the operator should be carefully observed to hold the electrode lifting mechanism to react sensitively, and timely lifting and lowering of the electrode.

(6) In the refining period, if the electrode is used to increase carbon, the electrode immersed in steel will become thin quickly, and will be easily broken or cause the joint to fall off, resulting in increased consumption of electrode, therefore, as far as possible, the electrode is not immersed in steel to increase carbon, but other methods are used to increase carbon.

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