Thermal Analysis of Operational Events Affecting Electrolysis Cells and Their Local Alumina Dissolution Conditions

Recent cellCell designs tend to use innovative sensors coupled with control systems for timely process decisions that provide a common usage of digital twinsDigital twins and improved competitiveness. As the cellsCell are pushed closer to their operational limits, the preservation of the energyEnergy balance is a dominant limitation in the aluminumAluminum industry. Consequently, the proper use of novel measurement procedures and sensors is a realistic path toward optimal conditions. In order to understand the key drivers, and to pinpoint possible solutions, this article investigates the heat and energyEnergy balance of the cellCell with its main focus on the sustainabilitySustainability of proper alumina dissolutionAlumina dissolution conditions. The paper highlights the difficulties associated with different process operationsOperation resulting in heat and thermal imbalance. Finally, solutions that can provide smelters with efficient ways to mitigate these disruptions are presented and discussed that improve energyEnergy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gasGreenhouse gases emissions.