1.What is calcined coke?
Calcined petroleum coke (CPC) is a product obtained by high-temperature calcination (typically 1200-1450°C) of raw petroleum coke. During the calcination process, moisture, volatiles, sulfur (partially), and impurities are removed from the raw coke, resulting in a volume-stable, low-resistivity, and chemically purified material with a dense structure. It serves as a core raw material for producing prebaked anodes, graphite electrodes, metallurgical coke, and other products used in electrolytic aluminum production.
2. Applications of calcined coke:
Calcined coke, produced by high-temperature calcination (1200-1450°C) of petroleum coke or pitch coke, is characterized by high fixed carbon content, low ash content, excellent electrical conductivity, and strong thermal stability. As a critical industrial raw material, it is primarily used in the following fields:
2-1. Electrolytic aluminum industry (core application, accounting for over 80%):
The calcined coke is the core material of the pre-baked anode carbon block (the pre-baked anode is the "heart" of the electrolytic aluminum, which plays the role of conducting electricity and participating in the electrochemical reaction);
2-2 .Steelmaking and Ironmaking Industry:
Graphite electrode production: Calcined coke (especially needle coke calcination products) is the main raw material for manufacturing ultra-high power graphite electrodes, which are used in electric arc furnace steelmaking (providing high-temperature heat source and conductivity). The calcined coke must have low thermal expansion coefficient and dense structure.
The carbon additive: The low-sulfur calcined coke after crushing can be used as a carbon additive for cast iron/cast steel, which can adjust the carbon content of molten steel and improve the mechanical properties of castings (e.g., hardness, wear resistance), and is suitable for the production of automotive parts and machine tool castings.
2-3. Chemical Engineering and New Energy Fiel:
Lithium battery anode materials: High-quality needle-like calcined coke, after graphitization treatment, can serve as the core raw material for lithium battery anodes (artificial graphite anodes). It requires high purity of calcined coke, good spherical degree of particles, and moderate specific surface area。
Silicon carbide production: Calcined coke reacts with quartz sand at high temperatures to form silicon carbide (SiC), which is used in abrasives, refractory materials, and semiconductor wafer cutting consumables.
Industrial silicon smelting: Used as a reducing agent in industrial silicon production, it partially replaces charcoal to enhance smelting efficiency.
3 .The production and processing process of calcined coke:
The production and processing of calcined coke is a systematic project, which requires multiple key processes, each of which has a direct impact on the final product quality. The core processes mainly include four major stages: raw material pretreatment, high-temperature calcination, pulverization and grinding, and classification and screening.
3-1. The process begins with raw material pretreatment, where premium crude petroleum coke is selected as the primary feedstock. Through rigorous screening, impurities such as stones are removed to ensure material purity. The next step involves high-temperature calcination, where the crude petroleum coke is subjected to 1200-1500°C to eliminate moisture, volatile matter, and residual sulfur, resulting in a dense, structurally stable calcined coke semi-finished product. This stage requires extremely precise temperature control, as even slight deviations can lead to substandard true density and fixed carbon content in the final product, directly affecting downstream applications.
3-2. Upon completion of calcination, the core pulverization and powder preparation phase begins, which is the critical step determining product fineness and particle size distribution in post-calcined coke processing. Different application scenarios require distinct fineness specifications: electrolytic aluminum prebaked anodes demand post-calcined coke pulverized into graded powder with approximately 100 mesh fineness, while lithium-ion battery anode materials require micron-grade powder with D50=10-20μm. Through classification screening, powders of varying fineness are precisely separated, with non-compliant materials returned to the powder preparation stage to ensure final products meet downstream industry standards.
HCM HLM1700 vertical mill processing of 16 micron calcined coke
4.Coke production equipment: Core of improving the efficiency of powder making equipment：
The post-calcined coke production process involves multiple equipment categories, including calcination systems, powder-making units, grading devices, and environmental protection systems. Among these, the powder-making equipment serves as the core component that determines production efficiency and product precision. While the market currently offers a wide variety of post-calcined coke powder-making equipment, their quality varies significantly. Some devices suffer from issues such as low production capacity, high energy consumption, and uneven particle size distribution, making them inadequate for meeting the demands of high-end post-calcined coke production.
5. The HCM calcined coke pulverization equipment boasts four core advantages：
HCM Grinding Mill, a pioneer in powder equipment, has developed a comprehensive range of specialized calcined coke grinding systems to address core production requirements. The product portfolio includes Raymond mills, vertical mills, ultra-fine vertical mills, and ultra-fine ring roller mills, offering tailored solutions for calcined coke processing with varying production capacities and fineness specifications.
First, precise powder control meets diverse needs. The equipment features a high-precision grading system capable of processing powders from 80 mesh to 3000 mesh and micron-level materials. Whether for grading powders in electrolytic aluminum prebaked anodes or ultra-fine powders for lithium battery anode materials, it ensures stable production with uniform particle size distribution and a pass rate exceeding 98%.
Secondly, it achieves high efficiency and energy conservation, reducing production costs. By employing advanced grinding technology and drive systems, the energy consumption per unit is reduced by 15%~20% compared to traditional equipment, while significantly increasing production capacity. A single vertical mill can achieve a production capacity of 1~50 t/h, meeting the demands of large-scale production.
Thirdly, stability and reliability are ensured, with extended operational cycles. The core components of the equipment are made of high-strength wear-resistant materials and undergo specialized processing, resulting in superior wear resistance and prolonged service life. Additionally, an intelligent monitoring system is integrated to provide real-time operational status monitoring, preemptive fault alerts, and reduced downtime.
Fourth, environmentally friendly and compliant with policy requirements. Equipped with a complete enclosed dust removal system and exhaust gas treatment device, the dust emission concentration is ≤5 mg/m³, while exhaust gas indicators such as SO₂ and NOₓ far exceed national emission standards, facilitating the enterprise's green production.
Furthermore, ，HCM Guilin Hongcheng provides end-to-end services covering the entire lifecycle of equipment, from initial process design and equipment selection to mid-term installation and commissioning, and finally to post-production maintenance. A dedicated professional team ensures seamless support throughout the process, guaranteeing rapid commissioning and stable operation of the equipment. With its high-quality equipment and comprehensive services, Guilin Hongcheng's calcined coke pulverization equipment has been widely adopted in numerous large-scale calcined coke production projects across China, earning unanimous recognition from clients.
For inquiries about calcined coke pulverization equipment pricing and technical specifications, please feel free to contact us：e-mail:[email protected], WeChat: 18878317068
