About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Aluminum Reduction Technology
|
| Presentation Title |
Power Modulation Effects on Aluminium Reduction Pot MHD Behaviors |
| Author(s) |
Nadia CHAILLY, Alexandre Masserey, Sébastien Guérard, Kévin Patouillet |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Nadia CHAILLY |
| Abstract Scope |
Power grids are increasingly integrating renewable energy sources, leading to larger power fluctuations. Aluminum smelters require alternative solutions for power flexibility, particularly through potline amperage modulations. However, this can induce magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) instabilities, lowering pot performance. As pot amperage increases or decreases, metal pad upheaval and thus the levels of liquids (bath and metal) within the pot change rapidly while the position of anodes remains constant. This can lead to contact between metal and anodes, causing hazardous short circuits. In this work, ALUCELL software was used to help understand the phenomena at stake when modulations are applied. Modeling results were analyzed and compared to observations in aluminum reduction pots. Ultimately, new developments prove essential to adapt our MHD models in ALUCELL software to more precisely describe, over this brief modulation period, the transition from one initial steady state to another, enabling better control of pot operations during amperage modulations. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: Light Metals |
| Keywords |
Modeling and Simulation, Aluminum, Other |