slotted anodes

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| Slotted Anodes

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Page 1: Slotted anodes

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Slotted Anodes

Page 2: Slotted anodes

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Corporate Overview – Vedanta Resources Plc.

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Vedanta Aluminium Ltd is an associate company of the London Stock Exchange listed, FTSE 100 diversified resources group Vedanta Resources Plc. Originally incorporated in 2001, VAL is a leading producer of metallurgical grade alumina and other aluminium products, which cater to a wide spectrum of industries.

ABOUT Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Jharsuguda

VAL has invested in a 0.5 MTPA aluminium smelter and 1215 MW captive power plant supported by highly modern infrastructure at Jharsuguda, Orissa.

In addition to this, construction of 1.25 MTPA aluminium smelter expansion project at Jharsuguda is under process. The company intends to expand the fully integrated aluminium smelting capacity to around 2.75 MTPA in near future.

Jharsuguda is also the site of the 2400 MW Independent Power Plant being set up by group company Sterlite Energy Ltd to meet the growing demand for power from both urban and rural consumers.

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Process Flow – Aluminium Production

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4

Prebake Pot

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To produce 1 kg of aluminium the following amounts of raw materials are needed:

2 kg 0.415 Kg 20 g 2 gAlumina Carbon Aluminium fluoride

Cryolite

+ =

13 - 15 kWh 1 kgElectrical energy Aluminium

+ + +

4 kg bauxite

+ CO2 + CO + HF + CF4 + Coke + Other gases

Raw material Consumption – Production of Aluminium

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Cost Sensitivity

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40%

39%

16%

6%

Power Alumina Carbon Others

2980.6

Power is the most important cost driver.

Pot Voltage can be decreased to decrease the DC power consumption

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Reasons for High Voltage drop across the Electrolyte

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CO2, CO Released during Aluminium Smelting - Accumulation of gases

beneath anode Increases Bubble resistance – Voltage

Drop increases

voltage fluctuation – Noise may occur

Current efficiency Decreases – Hot metal

volume Decreases

Energy consumption for production of

Aluminium increases

Gas Bubble reacts with Carbon and

Reduces Anode Life

Increases Energy Consumption and Green

House Gas emissions

During Aluminium smelting, CO2 gases are evolved. CO2 bubbles get accumulated under the anode – forms a high

resistance film.

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Impact of reduction of bubble resistance.

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Minimizing of the anode gas bubble voltage drop - One of the most economical ways to reduce energy consumption.

Modification of the anode surface/Introducing slots can effectively reduce both the bubble voltage drop and anode overvoltage

Evacuate the gases

Reduces the cell bubble resistance - Reduce insulation of anode from bath

Increase surface area of anode

Increases Current Efficiency. Pot Voltage can be reduced.

Increases production of metal

Anode Surface Slots

Reduces Energy Consumption

and Green House Gas emissions

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Risk Assessment – Press Forming

Disadvantages

Makes green anodes more fragile

Variable anode quality (decrease in anode

density, increase in air permeability -

tendency to carbon dust, Spikes which

ultimately leads to reduction in CE

Limitation to increase the slot height.

Wide slots are made using the slot plates.

Packing Coke tends to clog the slots,

requiring more cleaning.

Reduces the mass of carbon and the life of

anodes

Scrap Generation increases in GAP and bake

oven.

Advantages

▪ Negligible Capital and Operating costs

Crack initiation from a slot in a green anode, damaged during handling

Anode breakage influenced by slot location.

Excessive consumption at slots during cell operation.

Slot slumping during baking

Spikes during Cell Operation

POSSIBLE FAILURE MODE

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Slotted Anode Configuration

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2 Longitudinal Slots with variable Slope

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Conceptualization & Design Engineering

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Anode surface slots were not present in the initial design by O&M. In house design engineering - Calculate the appropriate slot height and slope

Straight slots may be a problem in gas evacuation. Design of experiment and data analysis was performed Result was slanted slots are better in case of gas evacuation

Press forming which is the most common method – sometimes lead to the formation of Low density green anodes - results to excess coke dusting.

recipe for preparation of green anodes analysed with varied anode density. Optimum Density and minimum coke dusting - Specific anode preparation recipe

formulated

Design modifications have been made in the anode forming equipment (Vibro-compactor). Slot blades of variable height and slope was fabricated into the equipment.

Packing coke is used as the heat transfer mode in bake oven when green anodes are heated to form baked anodes which if not removed will lead to excess coke dusting in pots

Slot cleaning machine was installed in bake oven to remove this packing coke.

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Trial & Full Implementation - Impact on Energy consumption

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May-12 Jun-12 Jul-12 Aug-12 Sep-12 Oct-12 Nov-12 Dec-12 Jan-13 Feb-13 Mar-13

1454714587

14521

14422 14411

14608

14551

1437614344

14303 14282

Normal Anodes used

Normal Anodes Slotted Anodes – trail

Slotted Anodes – After Stabilization Period

Normal Anodes Slotted Anodes – Full Implementation stabilization Period

May-12 Jun-12 Jul-12 Aug-12 Sep-12 Oct-12 Nov-12 Dec-12 Jan-13 Feb-13 Mar-13

322.5

324.0

323.3

324.1324.3

324.0 324.2324.6

325.4325.7

325.9Normal Anodes used

Normal Anodes Slotted Anodes – trail

Slotted Anodes – After Stabilization Period

Normal Anodes Slotted Anodes – Full Implementation stabilization Period

Consumption increased due to external factors

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Slotted Anode Trial (Line 1-Section 7)

Trial period – 27th July to 25th Oct

Benefit realized• Reduction in Pot Voltage - a net reduction of 11 mV

• Reduction in AEF - net reduction of 0.19 no./pot day.

• Reduction in Noise - a net reduction of 1.66 mV.

• Net saving in Power Consumption of 35.2 kWh/MT. (190 MU/Year)

• Reduction in PFC & CO2 Emissions – Net reduction by 50% in trial section

All benefits shown are excluding the benefits realised in section 8.

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Pot room Parameter Analysis for Slotted Anodes on Full line Implementation

Implementation period – 23rd Oct’12 to 13th Jan’13

Benefits observed• Reduction in Pot Voltage - a net reduction of 21 mV.

• Reduction in AEF - 0.21 no./pot day.

• Reduction in Noise - a net reduction of 3.9 mV

• Net saving in Power Consumption of 67.3 kWh/MT. (344 MU/Year)

• Amperage Ramp – Net increase of 3.1 KA. Production Volume Increased by 0.106 T/Day

• Reduction in PFC & CO2 Emissions – Net reduction by 50% in whole pot line.

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Intangible Gains - Impact on Environment

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Conservation of non renewable resources of energy.(Coal & Oil) Power consumption reduced by 344 MU/Year.

Emissions of green house gases (PFC) has been reduced by 50%.

Manpower productivity has improved. Anode effect frequency has been decreased to a large extent -

productivity has increased.

Reduction trend was seen in consumption of green poles AEF had reduced by 50%.

Elimination of Safety and health hazard reduced anode effect frequency and immediate auto quenching

methods - operators are now less exposed to hot furnace conditions.

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Future Readiness of Slotted Anodes

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Increasing Slot Depth

Slot Cutting

Other Energy Reduction initiatives

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Other Smelters Slot Heights

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Benefits of Slotted Anodes enjoyed by other smelters:

• For a slot depth equal to half the anode’s life, the voltage benefit is estimated between 35-66mV for Rio

Tinto Aluminium managed plants.[2]

• Voltage reduction of 45mV/pot by implementation of Slotted Anodes (HINDALCO, Renukoot)[3]

It can be seen that increasing slot depth from 10 to 20cm is

worth approximately 20mV in reduced bubble resistance

Smelter Slot Height (mm)

Anode Height (mm)

% Slot Height

NALCO * (Press forming) 120,100 560 21.40%

HINDALCO 180,160 645 27.90%

BALCO 182,176 580 31.40%

ALBA 215,190.5 650 33.10%

MOZAL 250,230 650 38.50%

EMAL (Phase-1) 250,200 650 38.50%

Hill Side 290,270 650 44.60%

EMAL (Phase-2)* 320,300 685 46.70%

VAL (Press Forming) 207.5,200 575 36.00%

VAL (Slot Cutting) 300,280 575 52.00%

* Note: NALCO and EMAL Phase-2 are using On line Slot cutting technique

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Online Slot Cutting

High Capital Cost

Life time of Saw Blade

Advantages

No Variation in anode quality

Higher Slot height than press forming

More slots possible, more closely spaced

Increases active area

Disadvantage

Initial investment on Slot Cutting Machine

and operating cost

Life time of a saw blade is a potential

problem (45000 Anodes per blade is

reported as per Brochot – Supplier of

Machine to NALCO)

Handling and recycling of granular

carbon dust.

Scrap Generation increases in bake

Oven.

On Line Anode Slot Cutting

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THANK YOU !!!!!