Heating New Anodes Using the Waste Heat of Anode Butts: Establishing the Interface Thermal Contact Resistance

Abstract

In order to be able to assess the rate of heat transfer between a new anode and an anode butt, it is critical to measure the interface thermal contact resistance between them. For that purpose, a lab experiment has been set up and tests have been carried out to record the thermal response of the system after a cold anode block is put in contact with a hot anode block. Finally, a model of the same system has been developed in order to identify the value of the thermal contact resistance that permits to reproduce the experimental thermal response.