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CFD Modelling of Alumina Feeding

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Light Metals 2018 (TMS 2018)

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

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Abstract

The dissolution and distribution of alumina in molten cryolite bath is a complex process, involving heat and mass transfer, phase transition and dynamics for a particle population with variable size and properties. Although single particle models can describe essential features of the process, they necessarily fail to capture features involving the interaction between particles (i.e. collisions and adhesion) and detailed coupling to the flow field, for which computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is needed. Several strategies and assumptions have been proposed in the literature, focusing on separate phenomena of relevance. Coupled models considering the full history of alumina particles have however not yet been developed. In the current work we investigate and review recent developments in coupled CFD particulate flow, aiming for general guidelines for implementation and use, with applications to both the gas-solid flow between the feeder and bath surface, and from the bath surface to dissolved alumina.

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Acknowledgements

The current work was funded by the Norwegian Research Council through SFI Metal Production.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway

    Kristian Etienne Einarsrud & Sindre Engzelius Gylver

  2. Hydro Aluminium, Primary Metal Technology, Porsgrunn, Norway

    Eirik Manger

Authors
  1. Kristian Etienne Einarsrud
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  2. Sindre Engzelius Gylver
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  3. Eirik Manger
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kristian Etienne Einarsrud .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Rio Tinto Alcan, Saint Jean, France

    Olivier Martin

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© 2018 The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society

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Einarsrud, K.E., Gylver, S.E., Manger, E. (2018). CFD Modelling of Alumina Feeding. 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_73

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