Aluminum Reduction Technology: Modelling
Sponsored by: TMS Light Metals Division, TMS: Aluminum Committee
Program Organizers: Jayson Tessier, Alcoa Corporation
Monday 2:30 PM
February 24, 2020
Room: 6D
Location: San Diego Convention Ctr
Session Chair: André Felipe Schneider, Hatch
2:30 PM Introductory Comments
2:35 PM
Comparison Between Different Laminated Aluminum Busbars Expansion Joints in Terms of Mechanical Performance and Relative Costs: Andre-Felipe Schneider1; Daniel Richard1; David Leroux2; Olivier Charette1; Francis Quintal1; 1Hatch Ltd.; 2Canmec Industriel, Inc.
Laminated aluminum expansion joints are an integral part of any busbar system and are commonly used in potline and substation DC circuits. These elements not only transfer electrical current from one rigid conductor to the next, but also deform to absorb thermal expansion in a controlled manner, therefore avoiding the generation of excessive thermomechanical stresses elsewhere in the system. Different geometries and construction techniques have been proposed throughout the years to accomplish a given specific task, such as accommodating longitudinal displacements from long conductors, for instance. It was found that, in practice, different designs respond differently to combinations of axial and transverse displacements.The objective of this work is to compare different laminated aluminum busbars expansion joints in terms of their capacity to accept imposed displacements as well as fabrication and installation costs. Three distinct topologies were assessed by means of both empirical testing and numerical modeling and the different findings are discussed. Recommendations are made for further developments.
2:55 PM
Demo Retrofit Study of a Chinese Inspired Cell Technology: Marc Dupuis1; Valdis Bojarevics2; 1GeniSim Inc.; 2University of Greenwich
For many years, the authors have been demonstrating their cell modeling tools and cell retrofit skills using those modeling tools to present demonstration cell retrofit studies. One recent series of cell retrofit studies leads to the presentation of a cell design predicted to be able to operate at 10 kWh/kg of Al. The authors now embark on a new demonstration retrofit study this time using a Chinese cell technology inspired base case as a starting point. There are plenty of public domain information on Chinese cell technology: potshell, busbar and lining design, so that Chinese cell technology inspired base case cell design is quite similar to existing Chinese cell technologies.This first retrofit study aims at demonstrating the huge potential of productivity increase that those existing Chinese cell technologies represent without compromising the power efficiency.
3:15 PM
MassTransport by Waves on the Bath Metal Interface in Electrolysis Cell: Lovatiana Rakotondramanan1; László Kiss1; Sándor Poncsák1; Sébastien Guérard2; Jean-François Bilodeau2; 1Université du Québec ŕ Chicoutimi; 2Rio Tinto Aluminium
The movement of waves on the surface of a fluid is always accompanied by a displacement of the particles in the wave propagation direction, this is the Stokes drift. This phenomenon can be found in aluminum electrolysis cells. More or less regular oscillation animates the interface between the electrolyte bath and the metal in a cell. It is well known that material, such as rafts of alumina and solidified bath, particles of undissolved alumina, cryolite snow can float on the metal bath interface. So these can be transported by waves at the interface. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on the works already done on the study of surface waves, interface waves and Stokes drift. Then the mass transport induced by these waves will be estimated for the case of the metal bath interface in the electrolysis cells.
3:35 PM
Development and Application of GP500+ Energy Saving Aluminum Reduction Cell: Zhuojun Xie1; Song He1; Hongmin Ao1; Abhrajit Chaterjee2; 1GAMI; 2Unimark International
Aluminum smelters are always seeking opportunities to increase capacity and reduce energy consumption to survive in today’s brutal competition. At present, 500kA level reduction cell technology becomes the mainstream technology in China. GAMI (Guiyang Aluminum & Magnesium Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd.) has successfully developed GP500+ energy saving cell and the technology has been applied to the first pot line in 2017. This paper focuses on technical developments of GP500+ energy saving cells ranging from shell, superstructure, busbar, lining, cell control system and remote support service. The industrial performance is also included.