Energy control in primary aluminium casthouse furnaces

Abstract

Controlling and reducing the energy consumption in aluminium melting/casting furnaces are key factors influencing the casthouse economy and the carbon foot-print. In order to effectively run a furnace with low energy consumption the burner’s fuel consumption in the different charge stages needs to be monitored. Furthermore, the furnace and burner need to be sufficiently instrumented to continuously measure important furnace parameters and relate these to the resulting melt temperature, and hence the energy consumption.

The paper gives operational experience of reducing the melting/casting furnace energy consumption in a Hydro Aluminium primary casthouse.