About this Abstract |
Meeting |
2020 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
Symposium
|
Aluminum Reduction Technology
|
Presentation Title |
Utilization of Waste Heat for Pre-heating of Anodes |
Author(s) |
Martin Grimstad, Kim Ronny Elstad, Asbjørn Solheim, Kristian Etienne Einarsrud |
On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Kristian Etienne Einarsrud |
Abstract Scope |
Carbon anodes are replaced on a regular basis in Hall-Héroult cells as they
are consumed by electrochemical reactions. Upon insertion of new anodes, bath will freeze locally as a result of low bath superheat and comparatively low anode temperature, creating an insulating layer on the anode surface, thereby delaying further production.
In the current work the potential for pre-heating anodes directly utilizing waste heat from off-gas and spent anode butts is investigated using a numerical model realized in COMSOL and industrial measurements at Alcoa Mosjøen. Anode core temperatures over 150 C and surface temperatures over 250 C were found when using butts as a direct heat source. Frozen bath samples from both pre-heated and regular anodes were collected and analysed using computer tomography (CT) in order to assess how various heating strategies influences frozen bath morphology. |
Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: Light Metals |