EVALUATION OF PROCESS CONTROL OF THE POTLINE

ABSTRACT Recent advances in aluminium reduction cell regulation technology have led to the development of high-amperage cells with very good operating characteristics. The system which has now been in use for more than four years in Aluminium Pechiney's smelters employs a two-tier hierarchy: - Each of the cells (pots) composing the line is equipped with its own local, stand-alone, regulation facilities catering for normal operation, incident management and tending requirements. - A central system affords supervision and control of the potline as a whole. This method of process control enables the pots to be operated with the minimum of manual intervention, while providing line management with all the data needed to run the line and manage the potroom.