Management process for an open anode furnace

Abstract

A device and method for measuring the operating condition of an open anode furnace, includes at least one sensor for measuring the temperature and/or determining the fuel quantity or the burner capacity of the burners allocated to the anode furnace, or for determining the opacity of the air, and for the independent and automatic control of the process management of the anode furnace. This is achieved by at least one measuring device for measuring the throughput of air flowing through the anode furnace provided in an air duct of the anode furnace through which air flows. The measured values are evaluated by an electronic control unit, and the electronic control unit sets the operating condition of the anode furnace according to the particular measured values.

1 . A management process for an open anode furnace ( 2 ) comprising a plurality of zones ( 3 ,  4 ,  5 ) connected together by an air duct ( 9 ), these zones ( 3 ,  4 ,  5 ) being composed of several sections ( 6 ) in which anodes ( 7 ) to be combusted are placed and within which, to at least a partial extent, different operating conditions obtain, in which one or more of the zones ( 3 ,  4 ,  5 ) have one or more burners ( 10 ) therein by means of which the corresponding zone ( 3 ,  4 ,  5 ) and air flowing through the zone is heated, and in which the air can be supplied through the air duct ( 9 ) into the individual zones ( 3 ,  4 ,  5 ) by means of negative pressure, 
 characterized by the following steps:    creating a heating duct index for each of the one or more zones ( 3 ,  4 ,  5 ) the index being made up of at least one of measured temperature, measured volumetric flow of air, the quantity of fuel supplied, the combustion capacity of the burners ( 10 ), the opacity of a fire generated by the burners ( 10 ), the level of negative pressure obtaining in the zone ( 3 ,  4 ,  5 ), and the resulting temperature gradient of the fire generated by the burners ( 10 ); and    making a comparison between the heating duct index and an actual operating value for the anode furnace ( 2 ), and undertaking a selected one of    (1) changing the throughput volume of air flow, and setting at least one of the quantity of fuel supplied and the combustion capacity of the burners ( 10 ), depending on a difference between the heating duct index and the actual operating value of the anode furnace ( 2 ), and    (2) exchanging at least one or more of the sections ( 6 ) forming the zones ( 3 ,  4 ,  5 ) as soon as a tolerance limit between the heating duct index and the actual operating value is exceeded.    
   
   
       2 . The process in accordance with  claim 1 , 
 characterized in that,    mathematical methods comprising one of linear multiple regression and statistical calculation, are used for creating the heating duct index.    
   
   
       3 . The process in accordance with  claim 1 , 
 characterized in that,    the management of the anode furnace ( 2 ) is dynamically adapted by means of the heating duct index in accordance with the operating condition measured in the sections ( 6 ).    
   
   
       4 . The process in accordance with  claim 1 , 
 characterized in that,    the volumetric flow of air is controlled by a damper flap ( 13 ) arranged in the air duct ( 9 ).    
   
   
       5 . A process for identifying a condition of a heating duct in open and covered anode furnaces, 
 characterized in that,    the condition of all heating ducts is continuously identified by means of a “heating duct index” that is formed by calculating together available measurement values using mathematical methods comprising linear multiple regression, statistical calculation methods and fuzzy logic algorithms, the index being calculated from at least one of correlation of measurement data and position of exhaust damper flaps on an exhaust ramp, the correlation of measurement data and the measurement of opacity at a relevant fire in a furnace, the correlation of measurement data and the measurement of negative pressure at the relevant fire in the furnace, the correlation of measurement data and measurement of at least one of quantity of fuel supplied and burner combustion capacity at the relevant fire in the furnace, the correlation of measurement data and measurement of temperatures in heating ducts of the relevant fire, the correlation of measurement data and measurement of temperature gradient of the relevant fire in the heating ducts, the correlation of measurement data and measurement of the pressure ahead of the fire at the relevant fire in the furnace system, the correlation of measurement data and the measurement of at least one of cooling air volume and ventilator capacity of flap position at the relevant fire in the furnace system, and from an optical assessment using eyepieces disposed at the fire in the furnace.    
   
   
       6 . A device for measuring operating conditions of an open anode furnace ( 2 ), the device comprising at least one sensor ( 16 ) for at least one of measuring temperature and determining at least one of the quantity of fuel supplied and the combustion capacity of the burners ( 10 ) disposed in the anode furnace ( 2 ), and determining opacity of fire generated by the burners, 
 characterized in that,    at least one measuring device ( 17 ) for measuring the throughput of air flowing through the anode furnace ( 2 ) is provided in an air duct ( 9 ) of the anode furnace ( 2 ) through which air flows, the measured values are evaluated by an electronic control unit ( 12 ), and the electronic control unit ( 12 ) is adapted to set the operating condition of the anode furnace ( 2 ) in accordance with the measured values.    
   
   
       7 . The device in accordance with  claim 6 , 
 characterized in that,    at least one damper flap ( 13 ) is arranged in the air duct ( 9 ) of the anode furnace ( 2 ) and in that an opening angle of the damper flap ( 13 ) is adjusted by the electronic control unit ( 12 ).    
   
   
       8 . The device in accordance with  claim 7 , 
 characterized in that,    each of the damper flaps ( 13 ) attached at a selected one of an input and output of the air duct ( 9 ).    
   
   
       9 . The device in accordance with  claim 6 , 
 characterized in that,    at least one ventilator ( 14 ) is allocated to the air duct ( 9 ) of the anode furnace ( 2 ), and negative pressure generated by the ventilator ( 14 ) in the air duct ( 9 ) is adjusted by the electronic control unit ( 12 ).    
   
   
       10 . The device in accordance with  claim 6 , 
 characterized in that,    the burner capacity of the individual burners ( 10 ) attached to the anode furnace ( 2 ) is controlled by the electronic control unit ( 12 ).