| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2020 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Electrode Technology for Aluminum Production
|
| Presentation Title |
Ready-to-Use Cathodes for the Hall-Héroult Process |
| Author(s) |
Markus Pfeffer, Louis Bugnion, Laure Von Kaenel, Oscar Vera Garcia |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Markus Pfeffer |
| Abstract Scope |
Ready-to-Use Cathode (RuC™) blocks based on copper-inside-cathode concept have been implemented in many aluminum smelters since 2015. The concept and key performance parameters are presented, along with measurements of cathode resistance, collector bar current distributions and temperatures at the cell start-up as a function of cell age. Today, more than 500 RuC cathodes are in operation and more RuC™ cells are started every day. Significant energy savings and improvement of the cell magneto-hydrodynamic state are achieved. The reduction of the maximum cathode surface current density should lead to longer cathode life. The concept allows to avoid cast iron rodding and recovery of copper at the relining time. A new generation of cathode is ready to be implemented. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: Light Metals |