| Abstract Scope |
Testing of anodes for Al-metal production is addressed on three counts: 1, equipment and scale; 2, which paste plant production factors dominate anode quality property level and variation; 3, what factors must be controlled. Re item 3, from Hydro testing experience, critical factors are the raw materials and the combination of pitch level/mixing temperature. Re 1, equipment and scale, full scale testing is preferrable, however, practical issues and the need for stable anode quality limit how far this type of test can go. But the baseline for anode quality is established relative to major production factors by systematizing full-scale production data. Hydro Anode Data, HAD, was developed for this. Focus of this paper are items 2 and 3 including setting up a system for pilot scale testing that realistically simulates a full-scale paste plant with examples from a study aimed at controlling factors to show their effects on anode quality. |