About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Aluminum Reduction Technology
|
| Presentation Title |
INNOVATIVE STRATEGY APPLIED TO THE OPTIMIZATION OF THE COPPER INSERT IN THE CATHODE ASSEMBLY |
| Author(s) |
Simon Tremblay, Daniel Marceau, Antoine Godefroy, Dominic Dubé, Sébastien Charest |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Simon Tremblay |
| Abstract Scope |
To reduce the energy consumption of an aluminum reduction cell, lowering ohmic resistance and minimizing heat losses are key objectives. To achieve this, aluminum producers use graphitic carbon blocks, which offer lower electrical resistivity but higher thermal conductivity, making it more difficult to maintain the cathode block at the operational temperature. Heat extraction can be managed partially through the design of the collector bars. Nonetheless, reducing heat flow through the collector bars is a relevant challenge since it can significantly compromise their electrical resistance. Therefore, identification of an optimal trade-off where thermal benefits do not excessively penalize electrical performance is a critical point of interest. Using a cost function based on key performance indicators, this paper proposes an innovative strategy to determine the optimal configuration of the copper insert in the cathode assembly to ensure the appropriate thermal balance of the aluminum reduction cell. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: Light Metals |
| Keywords |
Aluminum, Modeling and Simulation, Process Technology |