Dmitry Malienko, Deputy Technical Director for Production of Zaporizhzhya Ferroalloy Plant JSC, and Elena Bai, Commercial Director of the enterprise, examined various parts of the Norwegian Elkem Carbon plant for two days, participated in seminars that were planned for guests from different countries on the occasion of 100 anniversary of this company.
“Today it is very important for our enterprise to take measures that will extend the life of the electrodes. We are talking about such technological things as the insulation of electrodes when the furnace comes out of idle time, holding a certain operating mode, changing the design, and the like. And here the experience of the luminaries of this industry - the Norwegians - is very useful, ”notes Dmitry Malienko.
Elkem Carbon, however, keeps its cutting edge technology a tight secret. But he willingly sells its products, including to Ukraine.
For example, in workshop No. 4 of Zaporozhye Ferroalloy Plant JSC, where electrode failure was a very serious problem for a long time, it is Elkem-mass that is now used. It perfectly smooths out the roughness of the technology. Previously, turning off and then turning on the furnaces after two hours of inactivity led to a crushing thermal shock. Now, even after 8-12 hours, the electrodes remain in working order.
Of the new proposals Carbon is a monolithic rammed lining for furnaces, which has a lower thermal conductivity, resistance to metal leakage and greater environmental friendliness.
Among the latest developments of the Norwegian company is a carbon trough block, which is quite resistant to high temperatures, almost does not oxidize and therefore is much more durable.
Elkem Carbon expressed its readiness to provide such a block to Zaporizhzhya Ferroalloy Plant JSC free of charge for testing, so to speak, in action.
The Ukrainian guests were also presented with electrode paste for trays, which does not fade when passing through the metal - another know-how of Norwegian developers.
Elkem Carbon is a leading global supplier of carbon paste and specialty products for the ferroalloy, silicon and aluminum industries.
