Abstract
A trend for the next decades is the transition of aluminium electrolysis potlines, from a stable energy supply to a highly volatile energy input, which primarily driven by the increased usage of renewable energy sources on the power grid. Adapting the aluminium electrolysis process to a flexible power supply needs rethinking on a number of aspects affected by unpredictive power changes. Manipulating thermal and magnetic impacts associated with fluctuating amperage are just a few of these aspects, however main topic of this paper. Installing heat exchangers and magnetic field compensation in a potline while at the same time operating it, is a major challenge. Keeping the heat balance and production into a relative stable state, in a long period whilst having massive power outages, upgrading busbars design and insulating with heat exchangers in a safe routine, was the main challenge to handle. The transformation process of a potline while maintaining stability also required great cooperation between contractors and employees.
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Acknowledgements
Many people have contributed in several ways to make the retrofit successful. The authors would like to acknowledge the rest of the team including contractors for their contribution.
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© 2019 The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society
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Düssel, R., Mulder, A., Bugnion, L. (2019). Transformation of a Potline from Conventional to a Full Flexible Production Unit. In: Chesonis, C. (eds) Light Metals 2019. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05864-7_68
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05864-7_68
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