| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2010 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Cast Shop for Aluminum Production
|
| Presentation Title |
Casthouse Design for the Production of Air-Cooled, Low-Profile Aluminium Sows |
| Author(s) |
Tom Plikas, Tony Cesta, Lowy Gunnewiek, Michael Trovant, Rui Santiago, Jean Vanasse |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Tom Plikas |
| Abstract Scope |
The Aluminerie Alouette Inc. Smelter in northern Quebec, Canada recently completed a major plant expansion that includes a new casthouse for the continuous production of low-profile aluminium sows using natural air cooling technology. This is a novel concept representing a departure from the traditional batch, water-cooled casting operations of the past, and has benefits in terms of sow quality, production efficiency, safety, and mould maintenance. The casthouse design presented many challenges: ensuring proper casting and cooling of sows at the correct metal production rate to produce high quality sows, design of the casting machine and moulds to withstand thermal shocks and stresses, developing a ventilation system for effective management of heat released during the casting process, and protection of heat sensitive equipment and instrumentation using radiation shielding. This paper describes how these engineering challenges were met through the use of sound design practice, empirical testing, and computational methods. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Definite: A combination print-CD volume |