About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Aluminum Reduction Technology
|
| Presentation Title |
Impact of frequent Power Outages on Pot Stability |
| Author(s) |
Alok Singh, Pramod kumar, Rupesh Pandey, Jayesh Pawar |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Alok Singh |
| Abstract Scope |
The Hall–Héroult process, which is the basis of primary aluminium production, relies on a constant electric current to maintain bath temperatures around 950-960°C. This heat is essential for efficient alumina dissolution and stable metal production. Even brief power interruptions can disturb the thermal balance of electrolytic pots, while prolonged outages can cause severe issues such as bath freezing, side ledge thickening, muck formation, and cathode cooling.The operational stability of potlines, particularly low-amperage lines (~70 kA), is therefore strongly sensitive to the frequency, intensity and duration of power disturbances.
This study analyzes 63 recorded power interruptions in 4 months across 11 potlines, results show that the first 15–30 minutes are critical, with rapid temperature drops especially in pots operating at low temperatures. The findings of the paper emphasizes the necessity for aluminium smelters to implement comprehensive outage preparedness frameworks, incorporating real-time monitoring and predictive failure modeling. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: Light Metals |
| Keywords |
Aluminum, Process Technology, Other |