Abstract
The primary copper smelter in Hamburg had two anode furnaces that were in operation for over 50 years. From September to December 2021, the anode furnaces were temporarily supplied with hydrogen, and 14 batches were poled using hydrogen. These experiments were designed to find out how well poling with hydrogen worked and how it could be controlled.
The tests showed how important it is to add nitrogen to ensure the submerged gas jets remained stable. When pure hydrogen was used, the tuyeres clogged often. The injection of natural gas differs from that of hydrogen-nitrogen mixtures. This is not only due to their different physical properties, but also because of their different chemical properties.
In 2024, Aurubis Hamburg site installed two new anode furnaces as part of its planned shutdown. The new furnaces have many new features that make them safer and easier to use. However, the main design was influenced by the company's decision to have them hydrogen ready for poling. The test results were used to determine the design specifications for the new hydrogen-ready anode furnaces.