Copper upcasters charge cathodes automatically

Vertical upcasting unit delivered recently features automatic cathode charging for single-furnace systems and redesigned die coolers and casting software to boost productivity.

Outokumpu has succesfully delivered and commissioned a 7,500 tonnes/year Upcast unit to Cecil S A, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The required capacity can be reached with a new-designed single-furnace system, where copper cathodes are fed into the furnace from one side, while high-quality oxygen-free copper rod is cast from the other side of the furnace.

A wall exists between the charging and casting sides, which interconnect through a channel at the bottom of the furnace.

The furnace is 8 tonnes of molten copper in volume.

This gives a sufficient dwell time for the molten copper in order to reduce the oxygen level down to 1-2ppm and keep an accurate and stable temperature of the melt - both essential requirements in producing good copper rod.

Before the mentioned design changes, the largest existing single-furnace capacity for oxygen-free copper rod was the UPCAST system for 6,000 tonnes/year.

The unit supplied to Cecil S A is the first one to feature all the latest developments of the Upcast technology including automatic cathode charging for single-furnace systems and the redesigned die coolers and casting software for increased productivity and even further improved rod quality.

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