Investigation of the waste heat recovery and pollutant emission reduction potential in graphitization furnace. (15th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lan, Yuncheng; Zhao, Xudong; Zhang, Wei; Mu, Lianbo; Wang, Suilin
• Is Part Of: Energy. Volume 245(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04-15
• Subjects: Graphitization furnace -- Heat dissipation -- Waste heat potential -- Energy conservation; Power resources -- Periodicals; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy consumption -- Periodicals; 333.7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.123292
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-5442

Abstract

Abstract: The graphite furnaces, which are extensively used for high-purity graphite production, inevitably discharges a large amount of waste heat that requires significant recovery for purpose of the improved energy efficiency. The paper numerically analyzed the heat transfer performance of a graphitization furnace under the electrical-heating and natural-cooling period. The temperature-dependent properties and heat transfer coefficients were used to predict the waste heat recovery potential along with on-site measurements. The results show that during the graphitization production, the core furnace temperature can reach 3000 °C while the petroleum coke surface reaches 368 °C without the combustion of the volatiles in the coke. The heat dissipation on the top coke surface accounts for 48.5% of the total electricity input and 66.9% of the total heat dissipation from the furnace, respectively. The equivalent emission reduction of CO2, SO2 and NOx are 47.5 t, 7.4 t and 3.6 t respectively per annum. The investigation of the waste heat recovery potential for graphitization furnaces can provide a reference for the heat recovery equipment and operation for graphitization furnaces. Highlights: Waste heat during whole graphitization process is potentially evaluated. Varying thermal properties and heat transfer coefficients are adopted in the model. Waste heat can be recovered by 48.5% from the coke surface approximately. Annual emission reduction of CO2, SO2, NOx are 47.5, 7.4 and 3.6 t/a, respectively.