Irkutsk National Research Technical University, Irkutsk, Russia:

V. V. Kondratev, Assistant Professor of a Chair of Quantum Physics and Nanotechnologies

V. A. Ershov, Assistant Professor of a Chair of Automation of Industrial Processes, e-mail: v.ershov@mail.ru

N. A. Ivanov, Director of Physical-Technical Institute

Siberian Federal University, Krasnoyarsk, Russia:

S. G. Shakhray, Assistant Professor of a Chair of Technosphere Safety of Mining and Metallurgical Production

There was carried out the literature and patent review of technical solutions, ensuring the recovery of thermal energy, released in electrolytic production of aluminum. There is offered the use of the heat process gases, removed from electrolytic cells for pre-heating of baked anodes before their installation in cryolite-alumina melt. Currently preheating of baked anodes for two minutes, using crane, is maintained over the high electrolyte mainly for moisture drying. There was developed the design of container device for preheating of baked anodes by heat exhaust process gases in aluminum production. The system liquid with boiling point (not lower than 1400⁰ C) was used as coolant. For the purpose of reduction of heat losses, the sidewalls and bottom of container are provided with thermal insulation. A heat exchanger with sufficient heat exchange surface and low static resistance is offered as devices. Optimal number of devices, installed in the flue series, should not be less than three, which will ensure the maximum efficiency of heat recovery process gases, removed from the cells. Anode preheating reduces the effect of thermal shock force, excludes the need for exposure of anode block over an open melt, reduces the time of technological operations “anode replacing”, and reduces the specific energy consumption due to more rapid heating of anode to the melt temperature. There was developed the appropriate device, providing the anode pre-heating to 90–100⁰ C, and significant energy savings in electrolytic production of aluminum. There is shown the account of reduction of energy consumption while providing of preheating of prebaked anode process gases, confirming the feasibility of technical solutions and meeting the modern requirements of Russian legislation in the field of energy and resources.

1. Yanko E. A. Proizvodstvo alyuminiya : posobie dlya masterov i rabochikh tsekhov elektroliza alyuminievykh zavodov (Production of aluminium : tutorial for masters and workshops of electrolysis of aluminium plants). Saint Petersburg: Publishing House of Saint-Petersburg University, 2007. 305 p. 

2. Polyakov P. V., Ragozin L. V., Sokolov V. S. et al. Sposob ochistki anodnykh gazov elektroliticheskogo proizvodstva alyuminiya (Methods of purification of anode gases of electrolytic production of aluminium). Patent RF, No. 2247176.

3. Nizhegorodtsev V. I., Nizhegorodtseva S. V., Nizhegorodtseva T. V. et al. Sposob ochistki gaza elektroliza alyuminiya (Methods of purification of aluminium electrolysis gas). Patent RF, No. 2162007. 

4. Ibatullin R. R., Gnedochkin Yu. M., Kuneevskiy V. V. et al. Sposob utilizatsii tepla gazov (Method of utilization of gases' heat). Patent RF, No. 2300653. 

5. Shakhray S. G., Pingin V. V., Popov Yu. A. et al. Konteyner dlya germetizatsii anodnykh ogarkov (Anode cinders' waterproofing container). Patent RF, No. 2385973. 

6. Bouhabila El Hani, Cloutier B., Malard Th., Martineau Ph., Vendette H. Electrolytic cell gas cooling upstream of treatment center. Light Metals. 2012. pp. 545–550. 

7. Zhukov E. I., Shakhray S. G., Vinokurov M. V., Kondratev V. V. Tekhnicheskie resheniya po utilizatsii tepla i ulavlivaniyu vrednykh vybrosov pri okhlazhdenii anodnogo ogarka (Engineering solutions for utilization of heat and catching of hazardous emissions with cooling of anode cinder). Vestnik Irkutskogo gosudarstvennogo tekhnicheskogo universiteta = Bulletin of Irkutsk State Technical University. 2011. Iss. 6. pp. 91–98. 

8. Kondratev V. V., Nikolaev V. N. Tekhnologicheskie resheniya po energosberezheniyu i snizheniyu kapitaloemkosti sistem gazoudaleniya i gazoochistki metallurgicheskikh proizvodstv (Technological solutions on
energy-saving and decreasing of capital-investment of systems of gasremovement and gas-purification of metallurgical productions). Metallurg = Metallurgist. 2014. No. 5. pp. 96–101. 

9. Eika K., Skjeggstad R. Heat Recovery and Dynamic Process Studies. Light Metals. 1993. pp. 277–284.

10. Akhmedov S. N., Kozlov V. A., Gromov B. S., Pak R. V., Skvortsov V. G. Vzaimosvyaz tekhnologii zameny obozhzhennykh anodov i konstruktivnykh parametrov elektrolizerov dlya polucheniya alyuminiya (Interconnection of technology of replacement of calcined anodes and construction parameters of electrolysers for aluminium obtaining). Tsvetnye Metally = Non-ferrous metals. 2006. No. 2. pp. 56–61.