Effect of water flow distribution on the performance of aluminium small-form ingot continuous castings
This paper presents the effect of water flow distribution in the cooling basins on the ingot solidification and ingots constraint stress. The water flow parameters at three sections in the cooling basin were tested. The complete ingots cooling profiles, mould temperature profiles and the demoulding rate in correlation with the water flow distribution were evaluated. […]
The LCL&L process, a sustainable solution for the treatment and recycling of spent potlining
In 2008, Rio Tinto inaugurated a new plant in Jonquière (Québec) for the treatment of 80 kt of SPL annually, based on the low-caustic leaching and liming process (LCL&L) developed at Arvida Research and Development Centre in the early 1990s. LCL&L process characteristics are described, including valorisation routes for its by-products and some recent improvements […]
Additive Selection for Coal Tar Pitch Modification in Aluminum Industry
This paper describes the method undertaken to establish an additive selection method which would yield improved coke wettability by modified pitch and presents the results for three different additives. Non-modified and modified pitches were characterized by carrying out wettability tests and FTIR analyses. Coking values of non-modified and modified pitches were also measured. The results […]
Higher baking and production levels in anode baking furnaces and associated challenges
The paper describes projects that were simultaneously executed in two of Rio Tinto’s North American smelters and describes the work performed to achieve both a higher baking level and higher production. Optimisation of the baking curves is discussed, along with the issues that arose during the project and the solutions that were put in place. […]
Modelling of gas injection on Anode Baking Furnace and application to operations
In this paper, a 3D model for the combustion of pulses of gas in the heating sections will be presented, a model which focuses on the flame behavior in order to precisely represent the gas pulses, the quality of the combustion, the heat transfer and the emissions. The effect of the parameter variations on operation […]
Major reconstruction of central casing of open top baking furnace
In cooperation with AP, Aluminium Company of Greece will present its major reconstruction of central casing of open top baking furnace of more than 50 years old with a view to increase its lifespan and reduce the total costs comparing to full reconstruction. The different phases undertaken in order to successfully develop and safely realize […]
Development of a Mathematical Model to Simulate Raft Formation
A Lagrangien model, called CuDEM and destined to simulate the alumina feeding process is presented in this paper. The first part of this model focuses on the interaction between the spherical particles and their environment by resolving the movement’s equation using discrete element method. The second part uses the smooth particle hydrodynamics to simulate the […]
Mass Transport by Waves on the Bath Metal Interface in Electrolysis Cell
This paper reviews the literature on the works already done on the study of surface waves, interface waves and Stokes drift (movement of waves on the surface of a fluid is always accompanied by a displacement of the particles in the wave propagation direction) and presents estimates of the mass transport induced by these waves […]
Model Based Approach for Online Monitoring of Aluminium Production Process
Model Based Approach for Online Monitoring of Aluminium Production Process: This article presents a novel approach for estimating on line alumina concentration and the anode-cathode distance (ACD) in a regular aluminium-reduction pot cell using a Linear Kalman Filter. This is done by using an appropriate dynamical model for the pot, which is obtained by combining […]
Optimization of a Gas Treatment Center Equipped with Extended Surface Bag Filters:
Results of the test work that was conducted on the Gas Treatment Center installed at the Rio Tinto AP60 Technology Center located in Canada on the GTC which was originally supplied with standard filter bags except for one filtration module equipped with extended surface filter bags. Back in 2017, the original bags were approaching the […]