Developing and Implementing an Efficient Forced Cooling Network at Aluminerie Alouette

Abstract

Aluminerie Alouette started in 2017 a project for implementing the AP40 technology at their aluminum smelter in Sept-Iles, Quebec, Canada. Part of this technology consisted of installing a Forced Cooling Network (FCN) for regulating the pot thermal balance by cooling down the potshells of their 594 pots. The design of this system was divided into two main components: the pot duct networks for each pot; and the main collector networks that provide the required air flow to each of the pot duct networks. This paper explains the development of this Forced Cooling Network from concept design to installation and start-up of the best optimized and efficient solution. An integrated team formed by Alouette, Rio Tinto—AP Technology and Hatch specialists have worked together using a continuous improvement approach to make this project a success.