The geometrical effect on the thermal stresses of a self-baked carbon electrode

A numerical thermal stress model in ANSYS has been developed to describe the stresses in a Söderberg electrode during a typical furnace shut-down and start-up procedure. Results of the model show that a central hole in the column of a Söderberg electrode influences the temperature distribution, as well as the critical thermal stresses. Critical tensile stresses decrease when a central hole is implemented and the danger of an electrode breakage during the shut-down and start-up procedure is thus decreased.