Study On Aluminium Electrolysis Production Mode

Based on introduction and absorption of internationally advanced concepts and technologies, the primary aluminum industry in China has undergone a process from smallness to bigness in the recent decade and obtained achievements deserving worldwide attention.Currently, the current efficiency of the pre-baked pots operated in China has reached normally90-93%,and DC consumption13000-13200kwh/t-al. Nevertheless, there exists a certain gap with the internationally leading level.It is published in public publications that the current efficiency and DC consumption of the pilot pots and for the worldwide leading indicators have reached94-95%and13000-13200kwh/t-al respectively. For an aluminum smelter of capacity500kt/a, if the same DC consumption is achieved in China, a loss of2%current efficiency is suffered each year meaning a reduction of10,000t capacity per year. For the total capacity10,000kt/a in China, this loss of2%current efficiency is equal to a reduction of200,000t capacity per year, equivalent to the loss of the capacity of a medium-sized smelter in China.This paper focuses on two modes of production, one referring to the stable mode,the other high-efficiency mode. Excellent tech-economic indices have been achieved in the real production process with both of these two modes.The stable mode:It is a mode of production centering on the pot hearth, and with aluminum fluoride charging and tapping amount as adjustment means,keeping other technical conditions stable.The technical conditions adopted are neutral,easy for control, Normally, the DC consumption reaches13,200-13,600kwh/t-al, and current efficiency90-92%.The high-efficiency mode mode:It is a mode of production centering on temperature and overheat control, and with voltage and tapping amount as adjustment means, keeping other technical conditions almost stable. The technical conditions adopted are sensitive, but higher current efficiency is achieved.Normally, the DC consumption reaches13,100-13,500kwh/t-al, and current efficiency93-95%. Most of the existing aluminum smelters in China employ both modes.For practical production, if a reasonable stable and high-efficiency production concept can be established, it is certain to achieve a big economic benefit if considering the entirety and working from the details.This paper details the key management rules for pot production situations of the primary aluminum industry in China.and with the a leap towards higher efficiency based on stability. Meanwhile, it is hoped that more scientific researchers will know the production needs and the real production issues closely, and expected that more applications and researches regarding the practical production technologies will drive a better and faster development of the aluminum industry in China for the weak field of practical technology research.