About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Alumina & Bauxite
|
| Presentation Title |
Techno-economic Assessment of Steam Recovery from Calcination and Bayer circuit using Multi-stage MVR |
| Author(s) |
Siyun Ning, Graham Nathan, Peter Ashman, Woei Lean Saw |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Siyun Ning |
| Abstract Scope |
Refining alumina from bauxite ore typically consumes 9.5-15.1 GJ/tAl2O3, with 70% of energy used for steam generation via fossil fuel combusted boilers. Recovering waste vapour from calcination and Bayer circuit (evaporation, precipitation and digestion steps) offers significant potential for energy savings and CO₂ emissions reduction. The present study evaluates internal steam recovery as a decarbonisation strategy for alumina refining from both technical and economic perspectives, using Aspen plus to model and estimate the recoverable steam amount from each stage and the associated energy consumption. Internal steam recovery increases the technical and economic viability in alumina refining and is calculated to reduce energy consumption by up to 60-80% at 100% internal steam recovery scenario. In this scenario, capital cost becomes a dominant cost component, accounting for approximately 40-50% of the total levelised steam-related cost of alumina (LCOAS), with the renewable electricity price remaining the key operating cost driver. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: Light Metals |
| Keywords |
Other, Other, Other |