The Use of Graphite Electrodes on Industrial Silicon Furnaces

The industrial silicon reduction electric furnace is a resistant electric arc furnace. The graphite electrode is inserted into the furnace charge for submerged arc smelting, continuous heating, intermittent silicon production, continuous operation, also called submerged arc furnace.

Graphite Electrodes on Industrial Silicon Furnaces

Uses of Industrial Silicon

1. Industrial silicon is also called crystalline silicon or metallic silicon. The main use of industrial silicon is as an additive for non-ferrous alloys.
2. When silicon is added to some non-ferrous metals, it can significantly improve the strength and hardness of the metal. It can also improve the casting performance and welding performance of the substrate.
3. Industrial silicon is also used as an alloying agent for silicon steel with strict requirements, deoxidizer for smelting steel, silicone resin, silicone rubber, etc.
4. After a series of process treatments, industrial silicon can be made into monocrystalline silicon and polycrystalline silicon for use in the electronics industry, aerospace industry, chemical agents, and so on.

Application of Graphite Electrode on Industrial Silicon Furnace

Electrodes are one of the main consumable materials in industrial silicon production. The function of the electrode is mainly to introduce the current output from the transformer through the copper tile conduction current system into the furnace to generate arc heat and resistance heat in the furnace for industrial silicon smelting. Electrodes are an important part of the electric furnace conductive system. In the production process, a small part of the electrodes also participates in chemical reactions in the form of carbon. Electrodes are an important part of the electric furnace conductive system. Therefore, the resistance of the electrode is required to be as low as possible, and the allowable current density of the electrode is required to be larger to ensure the formation of a high-temperature zone where heat is concentrated in the furnace.

During the smelting process, the electrode is in direct contact with the raw material, and the electrode residue also falls into the silicon melt. In order to ensure the quality of the product, the ash and impurities contained in the electrode should be as small as possible. The cost of the electrode is an important part of the product cost. In order to reduce the production cost of silicon, the electrode price is required to be low. In order to prevent the electrode from breaking and causing a power outage, the electrode is required to have sufficient mechanical strength. Graphite electrodes have good electrical conductivity, allow high electrode density, relatively high mechanical strength, and low ash content, all of which meet the requirements of silicon smelting. Therefore, the current production of industrial silicon almost uses graphite electrodes.