A calcined petroleum coke plant is a process to produce high quality coke. The coke produced by this process is premium grade and is known as needle petroleum coke. X-ray diffraction is a method used to analyze petroleum coke. A calcined petroleum coke plant is an expensive project and will require a lot of investments and expertise.
This study was carried out to investigate the crystalline structure of calcined petroleum coke. The sample was analyzed using an OriginPro8 software. This software can measure the mean crystallite height in a sample and interpret the X-ray diffraction pattern. The study also examined the properties of carbonaceous materials used in aluminium production.
The results of the study showed that the needle coke's X-ray diffraction patterns were dominated by peaks with a low CTE. The increase in CTE occurred due to the addition of polystyrene, which decreases the carbon material's deformation ratio. The average hexagonal layer diameter and crystallite height were calculated from the Wolf-Bragg equation. In addition, the interplane distances were measured as a function of l = 1.5406 X-ray wavelength and th = Bragg's diffraction angle.
These results also showed that the addition of polystyrene increased the ordering degree of the structure. This increased order is consistent with changes in viscosity parameters. In addition, the samples P1 and P2 had obvious crystalline aggregates. Some of them had diameters of more than 100 mm. These results suggest that the petroleum coke samples contain agglomerates and large particles.
The microstructure of petroleum cokes is also studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. The ratio between the height of the crystallites and their average diameter is used to evaluate their microstructure. The farther from "1" the ratio, the closer the structure is to needle coke.
Needle petroleum coke is a premium-grade calcined product produced from the petroleum coke process. Its quality is determined mainly by the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). This property is influenced by the concentration of polystyrene in the feedstock. The CTE value for needle coke should be at least 5.732 x 10-6 degC-1 at 300 degC. The CTE value should not exceed 4.832 x 10-6 degC-1 when the feedstock contains up to 10% polystyrene.
Needle petroleum coke is a premium-grade calcined product that is obtained by catalytic cracking. Its density increases with the addition of polystyrene. This increase is due to a more intense coke pitching process and the involvement of previously involved mesogen polystyrene components. As a premium-grade calcined material, needle petroleum coke has a higher microstructure point than other petroleum coke grades. Moreover, needle coke's ash content corresponds to the requirements for UHP electrodes, while the moisture content provides electrodes with required operational properties.
A premium-grade calcined product of petroleum coke, needle petroleum coke contains needle-like crystals. Its characteristics make it ideal for graphite electrode production in electric arc furnaces. Its low sulfur content and anisotropic structure make it a preferred feedstock in these industries.
The calcined petroleum coke (CPC) industry is experiencing a severe imbalance in demand and supply which has led to a rapid increase in prices. This has negatively impacted the entire supply chain, from raw material suppliers to steel manufacturers. In addition, the recent ban on coal mining in China has put further pressure on supply. Lastly, the price of crude oil has been fluctuating, which can result in unexpected losses for manufacturers.
As petroleum coke is mostly made of carbon, the production cost depends on the feedstock. Moreover, the operating conditions of the plant also play an important role in the quality of the end product. In addition to its use as a fuel, petcoke also has a wide range of end-use industries.
One of the most important applications of calcined petroleum coke is in the manufacturing of electrodes for electric arc furnaces. Moreover, it is also used in the production of aluminum. The demand for calcined petroleum coke is expected to increase with the development of the steel industry and the booming population of developing nations. Meanwhile, the ban on coal mining and the fluctuating crude oil prices are expected to restrict the market in developing regions.
The price of pet coke has climbed steadily in recent quarters, supported by recovery in demand and consistent tight supply across the region. As a result, the price of the product has increased by around 20 percent since January 2021. This is largely a result of the higher cost of freight. The rising cost of petroleum coke is also driving downstream producers to search for cheaper alternatives.
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