The Successful Implementation of Energy Saving Technology Based on Steady Flow and Heat Preservation

Energy saving technology based on steady flow and heat preservation (ESTSH) has been developed by Zhengzhou Non-ferrous Metals Research Institute Co. Ltd of CHALCO. Starting with research from 2013, this technology aims at low D.C. power consumption for aluminum reduction. Based on numerical simulation modeling, integrated design with aluminum cathode steady flow, low voltage drop cathode assembly technology, redesign the isotherm distribution of the lower part of the cell body and operation acknowledge, the new design criterion is established for ESTSH. About more than 400 cells from 200 to 500 kA based on ESTSH have been rebuild in several smelters in China. The ESTSH cells produce steadily with cell voltage of 3.75–3.85 V, current efficiency of 92.0–94.0%, and D.C. power consumption of 12,200–12,500 kWh/t-Al. This paper presents the characteristics and performance of ESTSH cells.