Abstract: A brick is made of refractory material, preferably for use in a furnace for calcining carbon bodies, wherein at least one surface of the brick that is facing towards an adjacent brick is provided with mating elements such as recesses and projections. The mating elements are rotationally symmetric about an axis that is perpendicular to the surface.

Abstract: A method and equipment with a processing tool for the processing of carbon bodies, such as formation of holes in calcined carbon bodies, in particular nipple holes in anodes for use in electrolytic cells for the production of aluminium. The equipment comprises a positioning device (2) with means for positioning and fixing the calcined carbon element (1) and a processing station (8) with at least one spindle (10) which is designed to rotate and which has a processing tool (9) with one or more cutting elements (40-45). The spindle can rotate about a horizontal axis and can be moved in three directions which are perpendicular to one another so that the axis of rotation of the spindle can be given planetary motion during processing. The processing tool can be enclosed by a sheath which may have a suction device.

Abstract: A method for the use of material containing carbon as a packing material, anode mass or collar mass in connection with the electrolytic production of aluminium. The material is formed by granulating a mass which contains carbon particles and a binder. The carbon particles may comprise a carbon material which has been returned from the aluminium production process. The binder may comprise tar which is collected in connection with burning anodes. The carbon particles may comprise butt filter dust and can contain contaminants such as sodium (Na) and fluorine (F). By adding a powder/dust which contains silicon oxide (SiO.sub.2) to the mass, the contaminants can be rendered harmless. The added material can be formed by crushing and grinding used cassette stone (chamotte) to dust The present invention makes possible comprehensive reuse of several waste products of the electrolytic production of aluminium.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for baking or calcination of shaped carbon bodies in a furnace and a packing material for use in the same. In accordance with the method, carbon bodies are burned in a furnace chamber, supported or surrounded by a packing material which is formed from a mixture of a material containing carbon and particles of a material containing silicon oxide such as crushed chamotte stone. In accordance with the method, the baking of the carbon bodies will take place at a greater temperature gradient across the packing joint than previously, which results in greater tar combustion and better utilisation of the energy in the degasified components. Furthermore, a packing material is described that contains a component containing carbon and that also contains particles containing silicon oxide in a homogeneous mixture with the component containing carbon.

Abstract: A method for the renovation of a ring section furnace having several sections connected in series, each section comprising a plurality of parallel pits. A complete renovation/maintenance of the furnace is accomplished according to a continuous program where one or more, preferably three sections at a time and when needed, are torn down and rebuilt while the remaining sections are still in operation. During normal operation, several adjacent sections are undergoing a firing cycle and constitute a firing zone. The furnace is normally operated with a plurality of firing zones separated by inactive adjacent sections having the work material removed from or placed therein. In the present method, the firing cycles of less than all of the firing zones are altered until the minimum number of inactive sections separates at least two of the firing zones. This results in an increase in the inactive sections at another point.