Scholarlink

The Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) and Alcoa (USA) joint venture is the largest fully integrated aluminiumAluminium complex in Ras Al khair, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and consists of an aluminaAlumina refinery, an aluminium smelterAluminium smelter and a rolling mill. The Aluminium smelterAluminium smelter commenced operation on 12 December 2012 with 720 AP 37 technology reductionReduction pots in two potlines at 370 kA. The potlines were upgraded to Alcoa 400 from 2019 to increase amperageAmperage increase to 410 kA producing 805 kt/a of aluminiumAluminium. In November 2022, Ma’aden experienced a significant operational challenge when 304 pots were cut out due to a series of anodeAnode collapses and anodeAnode fall-offs in addition to other operational challenges. Remarkably, there was no power shutdown of the potline due to various preventative actions, taken to save the potlines. During five months of continuous pot cleaning, inspections and relining, all affected pots were back into operation safely at zero lost time incident, and production targets were back to normal. This paper explores the various factors that led to the sudden pot stoppages in pot operations, which significantly impacted metalMetals production, and it gives details of the successful recoveryRecovery. The incident provided a unique opportunity to perform extensive multiple cell autopsies, which in turn facilitated enhancements in cathode design, the assessment of diverse preheating techniques, and the examination of lining materials performance in addition to anodeAnode quality improvement (not covered in this article).

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Ma’aden Reduction Potline Partial Failure Incident and Recovery

  • 会议论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年

查看全文
  • Subah Al-Shammari,
  • Abdulrahman H. Al-Shammari,
  • Mohammed AlHunaini,
  • Brent M. Pekoba,
  • Ali Al-Shami,
  • Kishor Pant,
  • Sultan Al-Boqami,
  • Saad Al-Shammari,
  • Umakanta Nayak,
  • Yousef Alfarsi

摘要

The Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) and Alcoa (USA) joint venture is the largest fully integrated aluminiumAluminium complex in Ras Al khair, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and consists of an aluminaAlumina refinery, an aluminium smelterAluminium smelter and a rolling mill. The Aluminium smelterAluminium smelter commenced operation on 12 December 2012 with 720 AP 37 technology reductionReduction pots in two potlines at 370 kA. The potlines were upgraded to Alcoa 400 from 2019 to increase amperageAmperage increase to 410 kA producing 805 kt/a of aluminiumAluminium. In November 2022, Ma’aden experienced a significant operational challenge when 304 pots were cut out due to a series of anodeAnode collapses and anodeAnode fall-offs in addition to other operational challenges. Remarkably, there was no power shutdown of the potline due to various preventative actions, taken to save the potlines. During five months of continuous pot cleaning, inspections and relining, all affected pots were back into operation safely at zero lost time incident, and production targets were back to normal. This paper explores the various factors that led to the sudden pot stoppages in pot operations, which significantly impacted metalMetals production, and it gives details of the successful recoveryRecovery. The incident provided a unique opportunity to perform extensive multiple cell autopsies, which in turn facilitated enhancements in cathode design, the assessment of diverse preheating techniques, and the examination of lining materials performance in addition to anodeAnode quality improvement (not covered in this article).