Traceability of Raw Materials in Silos in an Anode Plant

Abstract

Carbon anodes, regularly consumed in primary aluminum production, are made of coke, pitch, and recycled materials. Coke is a byproduct of refineries, and its properties depend on the source of crude oil. Similarly, pitch properties depend on the coal tar source and the manufacturing process. Different coke and pitch mixtures are commonly used in anode manufacturing to meet various regulations and/or due to economics and availability. This makes it hard to maintain the anode quality. Coke and pitch are placed in silos and used when required for production. It is hard for the industries to track the source of raw materials used in their daily recipes. This article presents an approach to trace back the details of raw materials used with a custom-made software, which takes into account the type (mass flow or funnel flow) of silos. Such tracking can help identify the causes of problems and maintain/improve anode quality.