Carbon anodes are crucial for converting alumina into molten aluminum in the Hall-Héroult process and are produced by applying vertical vibration to a mixture of calcined petroleum coke particles, anode butts, and coal-tar pitch in the vibro-compaction stage. The response of the anode paste to applied vibration is affected by the rheological characteristics of the pitch, particularly its proportion, and by the properties of the coke particles, especially their diameter. This study shows how a model material containing different sizes of coke particles combined with a specific amount of a representative viscous fluid compacts due to the applied vibration. Results indicate that the vibration rearranges the coke aggregates and compacts the bulk through time. In addition, a material made up of coke particles mixed with a portion of the viscous fluid forms a pile with a higher angle of repose, indicating its lower flowability and need for stronger vibration than the dry coke particles. Moreover, the particle size distribution significantly affects the compaction dynamics, with the bidisperse mixture of fine and coarse particles demonstrating the highest packing density and uniformity among the cases examined.
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