Apparatus for lengthwise graphitization (LWG) of carbon electrode bodies

A furnace for the graphitization of carbon bodies comprising:

• (a) a plurality of stationary spaced apart electrically non-conductive refractory rib support members resting on an electrically non-conductive, stationary base platform each said refractory rib support members having a pair of side-by-side open-topped U-shaped apertures which are spaced away from said base platform and separated from each other by a post shaped integral portion of the refractory rib support member, said plurality of spaced apart refractory rib support members being arranged adjacently parallel with their respective U-shaped apertures in register;
• (b) a plurality of electrically isolated U-shaped continuous metal furnace sections having outer and inner surfaces and bottom surfaces spaced from the base platform extending between adjacent refractory rib support members and having terminal portions nesting in the U-shaped apertures of the refractory rib support members to form first and second side-by-side parallel rows of continuous metal furnace sections with closely laterally adjacent and opposed side surfaces, said side-by-side continuous metal furnace sections being separated by a vertical flue which is formed by the post shaped portions of adjacent refractory rib support members, a portion of the base platform and the laterally adjacent and opposed side surfaces of the side-by-side U-shaped metal furnace sections nesting in said refractory rib support members, said vertical flue being open top and bottom, and being venturi-shaped with a bottom opening substantially wider than its top opening for causing ambient air exposed to heat from the bottom surfaces of the metal furnace sections to pass freely upward through the flue at increased velocity from bottom to top to provide cooling of opposed side surfaces of the side-by-side metal furnace sections;
• (c) a plurality of water spray nozzles positioned adjacent the outer surfaces of the side portions of said metal furnace sections for directing a spray of water droplets at said outer surfaces of said side portions and establishing a layer of water on said outer surface of said side and bottom portions, and
• (d) a column of end-abutting carbon electrode bodies in each of said first and second rows of metal furnace sections, each said column being surrounded by particulate thermal insulation medium contained within and supported by the inner surfaces of the U-shaped metal furnace sections and said column being held in electrical contact with power heads so that electrical current flows in series through said carbon bodies to convert such carbon bodies to graphite by heating due to the Joule effect.

A furnace for the graphitization of carbon bodies comprising:

• (a) a plurality of stationary spaced apart electrically non-conductive refractory rib support members resting on an electrically non-conductive, stationary base platform, each said refractory rib support members having a U-shaped aperture spaced away from said base platform, said plurality of spaced apart refractory rib support members being arranged with their respective U-shaped apertures in register;
• (b) a plurality of electrically isolated U-shaped continuous metal furnace sections having outer and inner surfaces and bottom surfaces spaced from the base platform extending between adjacent refractory rib support members and having terminal portions nesting in the U-shaped apertures of the refractory rib support members to form a row of continuous metal furnace sections;
• (c) a plurality of water spray nozzles positioned adjacent the outer surfaces of the side portions of said metal furnace sections for directing a spray of water droplets at said outer surfaces of said side portions and establishing a layer of water on said outer surface of said side and bottom portions, and
• (d) a column of end-abutting carbon electrode bodies in said row of metal furnace sections, each said column being surrounded by particulate thermal insulation medium contained within and supported by the inner surfaces of the U-shaped metal furnace sections and said column being held in electrical contact with power heads so that electrical current flows in series through said carbon bodies to convert the carbon bodies to graphite by heating due to the Joule effect.

A furnace for the graphitization of carbon bodies comprising:

• (a) a plurality of stationary spaced apart electrically non-conductive refractory rib support members resting on an electrically non-conductive, stationary base platform, each said refractory rib support members having a pair of side-by-side open-topped U-shaped apertures which are spaced away from said base platform and separated from each other by a post shaped integral portion of the refractory rib support member, said plurality of spaced apart refractory rib support members being arranged adjacently parallel with their respective U-shaped apertures in register;
• (b) a plurality of electrically isolated U-shaped continuous metal furnace sections having outer and inner surfaces and bottom surfaces spaced from the base platform extending between adjacent refractory rib support members and having terminal portions nesting in the U-shaped apertures of the refractory rib support members to form first and second side-by-side parallel rows of continuous metal furnace sections with closely laterally adjacent and opposed side surfaces, said side-by-side continuous metal furnace sections being separated by a vertical flue which is formed by the post shaped portions of adjacent refractory rib support members, a portion of the base platform and the laterally adjacent and opposed side surfaces of the side-by-side U-shaped metal furnace sections nesting in said refractory rib support members, said vertical flue being open top and bottom, and being venturi-shaped with a bottom opening substantially wider than its top opening for causing ambient air exposed to heat from the bottom surfaces of the metal furnace sections to pass freely upward through the flue at increased velocity from bottom to top to provide cooling of opposed side surfaces of the side-by-side metal furnace sections, said U-shaped continuous metal furnace sections being provided at opposite ends with integral end terminations which comprise a U-shaped sleeve member spaced outwardly adjacent a metal furnace section at each of its opposite ends and a U-shaped closure member joining each said sleeve member a metal furnace section at opposite ends of the metal furnace sections to define open channels at the opposite ends of the metal furnace section for receiving a cooling liquid in the form of water;
• (c) a plurality of water spray nozzles positioned adjacent the outer surfaces of the side portions of said metal furnace sections for directing a spray of water droplets at said outer surfaces of said side portions and establishing a layer of water on said outer surface of said side and bottom portions, and
• (d) a column of end-abutting carbon electrode bodies in each of said first and second rows of metal furnace sections, each said column being surrounded by particulate thermal insulation medium contained within and supported by the inner surfaces of the U-shaped metal furnace sections and said column being held in electrical contact with power heads so that electrical current flows in series through said carbon bodies to convert such carbon bodies to graphite by heating due to the Joule effect.

A furnace for the graphitization of carbon bodies comprising:

• (a) a plurality of stationary spaced apart electrically non-conductive refractory rib support members resting on an electrically non-conductive, stationary base platform, each said refractory rib support members having a pair of side-by-side open-topped U-shaped apertures which are spaced away from said base platform and separated from each other by a post shaped integral portion of the refractory rib support member, said plurality of spaced apart refractory rib support members being arranged adjacently parallel with their respective U-shaped apertures in register;
• (b) a plurality of electrically isolated U-shaped continuous metal furnace sections having outer and inner surfaces and bottom surfaces spaced from the base platform extending between adjacent refractory rib support members and having terminal portions nesting in the U-shaped apertures of the refractory rib support members to form first and second side-by-side parallel rows of continuous metal furnace sections with closely laterally adjacent and opposed side surfaces, said side-by-side continuous metal furnace sections being separated by a vertical flue which is formed by the post shaped portions of adjacent refractory rib support members, a portion of the base platform and the laterally adjacent and opposed side surfaces of the side-by-side U-shaped metal furnace sections nesting in said refractory rib support members, said vertical flue being open top and bottom, and being venturi-shaped with a bottom opening substantially wider than its top opening for causing ambient air exposed to heat from the bottom surfaces of the metal furnace sections to pass freely upward through the flue at increased velocity from bottom to top to provide cooling of opposed side surfaces of the side-by-side metal furnace sections and the U-shaped apertures of the refractory rib support members being provided with grooves substantially co-extensive with said apertures and the U-shaped continuous metal furnace sections nesting in a common U-shaped aperture having their terminal portions separated by such grooves and a plurality of contiguous individual pre-formed refractory elements being positioned in the grooves with a portion thereof extending outward from such grooves and between the terminal portions of U-shaped continuous metal furnace sections nesting in a common U-shaped aperture;
• (c) a plurality of water spray nozzles positioned adjacent the outer surfaces of the side portions of said metal furnace sections for directing a spray of water droplets at said outer surfaces of said side portions and establishing a layer of water on said outer surface of said side and bottom portions, and
• (d) a column of end-abutting carbon electrode bodies in each of said first and second rows of metal furnace sections, each said column being surrounded by particulate thermal insulation medium contained within and supported by the inner surfaces of the U-shaped metal furnace sections and said column being held in electrical contact with power heads so that electrical current flows in series through said carbon bodies to convert the carbon bodies to graphite by heating due to the Joule effect.

A method for the lengthwise graphitization of carbon bodies comprising:

• (a) providing a plurality of stationary spaced apart electrically non-conductive refractory rib support members resting on an electrically non-conductive, stationary base platform, each said refractory rib support members each having a pair of side-by-side open-topped U-shaped apertures which are spaced away from said base platform and separated from each other by a post shaped integral portion of the refractory rib support member, said plurality of spaced apart refractory rib support members being arranged adjacently parallel with their respective U-shaped apertures in register;
• (b) providing a plurality of electrically isolated U-shaped continuous metal furnace sections having outer and inner surfaces and bottom surfaces spaced from the base platform extending between adjacent refractory rib support members and having terminal portions nesting in the U-shaped apertures of the refractory rib support members to form first and second side-by-side parallel rows of continuous metal furnace sections with closely laterally adjacent and opposed side surfaces, said side-by-side continuous metal furnace sections being separated by a vertical flue which is formed by the post shaped portions of adjacent refractory rib support members, a portion of the base platform and the laterally adjacent and opposed side surfaces of the side-by-side U-shaped metal furnace sections nesting in said refractory rib support members, said vertical flue being open top and bottom, and being venturi-shaped with a bottom opening substantially wider than its top opening for causing ambient air exposed to heat from the bottom surfaces of the metal furnace sections to pass freely upward through the flue at increased velocity from bottom to top to provide cooling of opposed side surfaces of the side-by-side metal furnace sections;
• and
• (c) providing a column of end-abutting carbon electrode bodies in each of said first and second rows of metal furnace sections, each said column being surrounded by particulate thermal insulation medium contained within and supported by the inner surfaces of the U-shaped metal furnace sections and said column being held in electrical contact with power heads so that electrical current flows in series through said carbon bodies to convert the carbon bodies to graphite by heating due to the Joule effect.

Method for the lengthwise graphitization of carbon bodies comprising:

• (a) providing a plurality of stationary spaced apart electrically non-conductive refractory rib support members resting on an electrically non-conductive, stationary base platform, each said refractory rib support members each having a pair of side-by-side open-topped U-shaped apertures which are spaced away from said base platform and separated from each other by a post shaped integral portion of the refractory rib support member, said plurality of spaced apart refractory rib support members being arranged adjacently parallel with their respective U-shaped apertures in register;
• (b) providing a plurality of electrically isolated U-shaped continuous metal furnace sections having outer and inner surfaces and bottom surfaces spaced from the base platform extending between adjacent refractory rib support members and having terminal portions nesting in the U-shaped apertures of the refractory rib support members to form first and second side-by-side parallel rows of continuous metal furnace sections with closely laterally adjacent and opposed side surfaces, said side-by-side continuous metal furnace sections being separated by a vertical flue which is formed by the post shaped portions of adjacent refractory rib support members, a portion of the base platform and the laterally adjacent and opposed side surfaces of the side-by-side U-shaped metal furnace sections nesting in said refractory rib support members, said vertical flue being open top and bottom, and being venturi-shaped with a bottom opening substantially wider than its top opening for causing ambient air exposed to heat from the bottom surfaces of the metal furnace sections to pass freely upward through the flue at increased velocity from bottom to top to provide cooling of opposed side surfaces of the side-by-side metal furnace sections;
• (c) providing a plurality of water spray nozzles positioned adjacent the outer surfaces of the side portions of said metal furnace sections for directing a spray of water droplets at said outer surfaces of said side portions and establishing a layer of water on said outer surface of said side and bottom portions, and
• (d) providing a column of end-abutting carbon electrode bodies in each of said first and second rows of metal furnace sections, each said column being surrounded by particulate thermal insulation medium contained within and supported by the inner surfaces of the U-shaped metal furnace sections and said column being held in electrical contact with power heads so that electrical current flows in series through said carbon bodies to convert the carbon bodies to graphite by heating due to the Joule effect.

Method for the lengthwise graphitization of carbon bodies comprising:

• (a) providing a plurality of stationary spaced apart electrically non-conductive refractory rib support members resting on an electrically non-conductive, stationary base platform, each said refractory rib support members each having a U-shaped aperture spaced away from said base platform, said plurality of spaced apart refractory rib support members being arranged with their respective U-shaped apertures in register;
• (b) providing a plurality of electrically isolated U-shaped continuous metal furnace sections having outer and inner surfaces and bottom surfaces spaced from the base platform extending between adjacent refractory rib support members and having terminal portions nesting in the U-shaped apertures of the refractory rib support members to form a row of continuous metal furnace sections;
• (c) providing a plurality of water spray nozzles positioned adjacent the outer surfaces of the side portions of said metal furnace sections for directing a spray of water droplets at said outer surfaces of said side portions and establishing a layer of water on said outer surface of said side and bottom portions, and
• (d) providing a column of end-abutting carbon electrode bodies in said row of metal furnace sections, each said column being surrounded by particulate thermal insulation medium contained within and supported by the inner surfaces of the U-shaped metal furnace sections and said column being held in electrical contact with power heads so that electrical current flows in series through said carbon bodies to convert the carbon bodies to graphite by heating due to the Joule effect.