Abstract
Point feeders have volumetric chambers that periodically deliver ore to cells through holes pneumatically broken into the crust layer. The period of feeder actuations is controlled by the logic employed to regulate bath alumina concentration. The time evolution of bath alumina concentration is mostly a function of the rates of alumina consumption and feeder mass charge, but is also influenced by other events such as crust seal breaks/leakages, and plugged or semi-plugged feeder holes. PID modulated In Situ feed logic addresses variable non-feeder ore related events to control alumina concentrations at targeted levels. Frequent underfeed and overfeed episodes are avoided. The In Situ ore feed concept has been successfully tested in the Dyna/Marc cell simulator at a targeted 2.30 % alumina concentration demonstrating both increased current efficiency (CE) and decreased kWh/kg compared to presently employed methodologies. Anode/cathode distances (ACD) can also be accurately measured using In Situ % alumina predictions.
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© 2012 TMS (The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society)
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TMS., Schneller, M. (2012). Characteristics of in Situ Alumina Pid Ore Feed Control. In: Suarez, C.E. (eds) Light Metals 2012. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48179-1_107
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48179-1_107
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
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