When using graphitized petroleum coke, how can we avoid “adverse reactions” with other elements in the furnace?

When using graphitized petroleum coke, to avoid “adverse reactions” with other elements inside the furnace, comprehensive management should be carried out from aspects such as controlling the heating rate, optimizing temperature monitoring, ensuring uniform heating, selecting appropriate resistive materials, controlling impurity content, implementing reasonable cooling, and strengthening equipment maintenance. The details are as follows:

Controlling the Heating Rate: During the heating process of graphitized petroleum coke, it is essential to strictly control the heating rate to prevent concentrated thermal stress within the material caused by overly rapid heating, which could lead to cracking or adverse reactions with other elements. Especially in the initial stage, a slow heating approach should be adopted, with a heating rate of 50-100℃ per hour being appropriate. Once the furnace temperature reaches a certain level and the internal structure of the material stabilizes, the heating rate can be appropriately increased.

Optimizing Temperature Monitoring: Utilize high-precision temperature sensors to monitor the temperature changes inside the furnace in real time. If temperature fluctuations exceed the allowable range, immediate troubleshooting must be carried out, and adjustments should be made to the heating power or the heating system’s wiring connections to prevent chemical reactions caused by abnormal temperatures.

Ensuring Uniform Heating: During the graphitization process, it is crucial to ensure uniform temperature distribution inside the furnace to avoid local overheating or underheating. This can be achieved by optimizing the furnace structure, improving the layout of heating elements, and adopting a reasonable loading method. Uniform heating helps reduce thermal stress within the material and lowers the risk of adverse reactions with other elements.

Selecting Appropriate Resistive Materials: When the resistance of the resistive material differs significantly from that of the product, the resistive material generates far more heat than the product itself during the graphitization electrification process, resulting in a significant temperature difference between the inside and outside of the product. This can cause excessive thermal stress, leading to cracking or adverse reactions with other elements in the product. Therefore, resistive materials with a resistivity similar to that of graphitized petroleum coke should be selected, and thorough mixing should be ensured to minimize differences in the heating rate across various parts of the furnace core.

Controlling Impurity Content: Impurity elements in graphitized petroleum coke, such as sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen, are prone to reacting with other elements at high temperatures, generating compounds that are detrimental to production. Therefore, the impurity content of petroleum coke should be strictly controlled during the production process, with particular attention to keeping the sulfur content at a low level (e.g., below 1.0%) to reduce adverse effects on other elements inside the furnace.

Implementing Reasonable Cooling: The cooling stage after graphitization is equally important and should not be overlooked. A combination of natural cooling and assisted air cooling should be adopted. First, the heating power should be turned off, allowing the furnace to cool slowly in a natural environment for a period of time. Once the furnace temperature drops to a certain level, air cooling equipment can be activated to gradually reduce the furnace temperature to room temperature. Rapid cooling can easily cause thermal stress damage to the materials inside the furnace and the furnace structure, affecting the service life of the equipment and product quality.

Strengthening Equipment Maintenance: Regularly inspect and maintain the graphitization furnace and its related equipment to ensure the normal operation of components such as heating elements, temperature sensors, and furnace seals. Timely replacement of worn-out parts should be carried out to prevent problems such as abnormal temperatures or gas leaks caused by equipment failures, thereby reducing the risk of adverse reactions with other elements inside the furnace.


Post time: Jan-20-2026