Method and equipment for cooling anodes

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and equipment for cooling anodes ( 4 ) in connection with anode casting ( 1 ), so that in the cooling unit ( 5 ), in between cooling steps, water is removed from the anode surface at least once before removing the anode ( 4 ) from the cooling unit ( 5 ).

1 . A method for cooling anodes in connection with anode casting, in which molten metal is cast in the mold of an anode casting wheel, said anode casting wheel conveying the anode in the mold into a cooling unit, where the anode is cooled by feeding water onto the anode surface in at least two steps, after which cooling the anode is disengaged from the mold in a disengaging unit, comprising, in the cooling unit, and in between the cooling steps, removing cooling water from the anode surface at least once before removing the anode from the cooling unit. 
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the removing of cooling water from the anode surface is by directing a medium agent jet onto the surface of a moving anode at an angle of 20-50 degrees with respect to the anode surface. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the medium agent jet is water. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the medium agent jet is air. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the medium agent jet is directed onto the anode surface at a height of 200-300 millimeters from the surface of the anode. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the medium agent jet is directed through at least two nozzles. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein in the cooling unit, the anode surface is cooled by feeding water onto the anode surface in five cooling steps, so that cooling water is removed from the anode surface at least twice. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the removing of the cooling water from the anode surface is performed in a direction opposite to the rotary direction of the anode in the anode casting wheel. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the rate of supplied water is preferably 10-120 liters per minute, at the pressure of 3-5 bar. 
   
   
       10 . Equipment for cooling anodes in connection with anode casting, comprising an anode casting wheel having a mold in which the metal of the melt can be cast, and a cooling unit, where an anode can be cooled by spraying cooling water onto the anode surface in at least two steps, whereafter the anode can be disengaged from the mold, and further comprising means for removing cooling water from the anode surface prior to removing the anode from the cooling unit. 
   
   
       11 . The equipment according to  claim 10 , further comprising a dewatering system having at least two adjacently positioned nozzles for feeding a medium agent such as water or air, onto the anode surface. 
   
   
       12 . The equipment according to  claim 11 , wherein the dewatering system comprises means for conveying the medium agent into the nozzles. 
   
   
       13 . The equipment according to  claim 11  wherein the dewatering system is arranged in the space between the molds provided in the anode casting wheel. 
   
   
       14 . The equipment according to  claim 11 , wherein the nozzles are positioned at an angle of 20-50 degrees with respect to the anode surface. 
   
   
       15 . The equipment according to  claim 11  further comprising an upper water jet in the cooling unit, wherein the angle between the dewatering system and the upper water jet is changeable in the horizontal direction. 
   
   
       16 . The equipment according to  claim 11 , wherein the nozzles are arranged at a distance of 200-300 millimeters from the anode surface in the vertical direction. 
   
   
       17 . The equipment according to  claim 10 , further comprising two dewatering systems arranged in succession, both of which are provided with nozzles in at least one row, so that the distance between the successive rows is 50-200 millimeters.