GCD Pot Bakeout (Cell Pre-Heating) Equipment

Description

GCD Pot Bakeout Equipment

GCD International, one of the Sterling Industries PLC group of companies, in conjunction with Comalco, has developed an unique technology for Pot Bakeout, suitable for both Pre-Bake and Sodaberg cells.

The GCD system, which revolutionises the way in which pots are pre-heated, is now in use in a growing number of smelters around the world. These installations are continually proving that improvements can be made over conventional fuel fired baking equipment and resistance heating.

With a GCD Pot Bakeout system, the following benefits are obtained:

• improved temperature uniformity at completion of bakeout cycle.
• repeatability of pot bakeout cycles.
• reduced thermal stress to pots.
• improved safety.
• potential for extended pot life greatly improved.
• reduced early pot failures.
• no cold spots.
• rapid strip-out.
• reliability of equipment, ease of troubleshooting.
• flexible configurable controls with a bakeout profile choice.
• reduced set-up time.
• reduced bake time.
• improved process control.
• destruction of noxious fumes from binders.

The pot bakeout system may be used for both Pre-Bake and Sodaberg cells, is readily adapted to both gas and oil firing and is designed to be compatible with international standards of safety. Due to its inherent mobility and design flexibility it can be readily tailored to suit any pot configuration. GCD Pot Bakeout engineers will work with you to design a system to meet the specifications of your Aluminium Smelter.

The GCD/Comalco Bakeout System utilises temperatures of up to 1200oC to slowly and evenly heat the cathode and anodes.

Specially designed nozzles direct the heat under the anodes and around the cathode cavity in such a manner that uniform controlled heating takes place. The size and placement of the nozzles were determined by three dimensional fluid modelling.

Temperature control is designed to be fully automatic using thermocouples in the pot cavity.

GCD/Comalco’s pot bakeout system overcomes many of the problems associated with conventional methods such as:

• Resistor baking.
• Gas or oil fire burner baking using up to four separate direct fired burners.

GCD/Comalo’s pot bakeout system is designed to achieve:

• A slow even, uniform across the pot, increase in temperature of the cathode blocks and anodes to a minium 750^oC and maximum 900oC.

• An adequate uniform increase in sub-cathodic (under cathode blocks) temperatures to a minimum of 400^oC.

• A slow protected bakeout of the rammed sidewall and slot packs to ensure that expansion/contraction, cracking and disintegration do not occur. Minimum rear sidewall temperature 400^oC.

GCD Temperature distribution in a transversal cut through a 160KA cell

The even thermal gradients achieved reduce thermal shock effects to a minimum bath absorption/attack will also be minimal and fluxing will not negate a long successful cathode life.

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