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TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition

TMS 2018: Light Metals 2018 pp 1527–1535Cite as

PFCs from the Chinese Aluminium Sector—Challenges in Emissions Accounting and Further Characteristics

Part of the The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series book series (MMMS)

Abstract

PFCs from high voltage anode effects (HV-AE ≥8 V) in aluminium smelters are currently accounted for by 2006 IPCC methodologies. Industry accounting of global PFCs is done by the IAI via anode effect (AE) surveys, however reporting from Chinese facilities remains limited, contributing to a 55% non-participation rate in 2015. A Chinese AE survey was conducted to help provide further data. However responses (supported by data from a case study smelter) highlighted that AE frequency (AEF) and duration (AED) statistics in China often do not include all detected AEs (only longer duration AEs e.g. ≥60 s) which is inconsistent with IPCC Tier 2 PFC accounting methodologies. The paper also presents PFC measurement data (2011–12) from 10 potlines in China, showing that unaccounted emissions from low voltage anode effects (LV-AE <8 V) can also be significant for low-amperage (235–240 kA) cells and that total PFC emissions were negatively correlated with current efficiency.

Keywords

  • PFC emissions
  • Greenhouse gas
  • Aluminium
  • Anode effect
  • Emission factor
  • China

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Acknowledgements

This publication would not be possible without the participation and responses from companies in the Chinese aluminium AE industry workshop. Supporting AE data from the second case study smelter is also gratefully acknowledged. Finally, PFC measurement data from the China National Engineering and Technology Centre for Aluminium is also gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Light Metals Research Centre, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand

    David S. Wong

  2. Central South University Institute, National University Park, 11 Changchun Road, High Tech District, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China

    Xiping Chen

  3. Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning, Ministry for Environmental Protection, 8 Dayangfang, Beiyuan Rd., Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100012, China

    Bofeng Cai

  4. Appraisal Center for Environment and Engineering, Ministry for Environmental Protection, Beijing, China

    Xin Bo

  5. International Aluminium Institute, 10 Charles II Street, London, SW1Y 4AA, UK

    Pernelle Nunez

Authors
  1. David S. Wong
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  2. Xiping Chen
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  3. Bofeng Cai
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  4. Xin Bo
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  5. Pernelle Nunez
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David S. Wong .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Rio Tinto Alcan, Saint Jean, France

    Dr. Olivier Martin

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Wong, D.S., Chen, X., Cai, B., Bo, X., Nunez, P. (2018). PFCs from the Chinese Aluminium Sector—Challenges in Emissions Accounting and Further Characteristics. In: Martin, O. (eds) Light Metals 2018. TMS 2018. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72284-9_199

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