Reduction of environmental emissions and energy consumption of the primary aluminium production with improvements to the chemical, electrical and thermal synergy.

铝是由氧化铝溶解在冰晶石熔体中，在940-970℃左右的温度下电解产生的。与任何化学反应器一样，在铝电解槽中，最佳的操作条件要求温度、氧化铝浓度、电流密度等密集参数的均匀分布。氧化铝粉末在这一浅层熔融电解液层中的均匀引入、溶解和分散是一个非常重要和困难的挑战。电解槽中的氧化铝浓度梯度与电解槽的化学、热和电气异质性密切相关。所述的合作工作建立在与力拓铝业之前的合作伙伴关系基础上，该伙伴关系精确地研究了氧化铝的溶解动力学。扩大了研究计划的范围，以便更好地了解电解槽中化学、热和电不均匀的根本原因。这项工作将直接导致潜在的改进和解决方案，以提高电解槽的均匀性。通过这样做，电解槽将消耗更少的电能，并显著减少过程扰动产生大量温室气体(GHG)的频率，特别是全氟化碳气体(PFC)。这项研究范围内的不同项目将基于数学建模、模拟、实验低温模拟系统、实验高温熔盐装置、工业数据数据分析和现场工业测量。原铝行业代表着加拿大经济中非常重要的部门。加拿大冶炼厂在能源效率和对环境的低影响方面在世界范围内名列前茅。RTA是第三大初级金属生产商，也是一家技术领先者。预期的结果将有助于加拿大铝业在日益激烈的国际竞争中保持领先地位。

Aluminum is produced from alumina dissolved in molten cryolite, by electrolysis at a temperature of about 940-970°C. As in any chemical reactor, in the aluminum electrolysis cell the optimal operational conditions require the homogeneous distribution of the intensive parameters like temperature, alumina concentration, current density, etc. Introducing, dissolving, and dispersing of the alumina powder uniformly in this shallow molten electrolyte layer represents a very important and difficult challenge. The alumina concentration gradients in the cell are strongly correlated with the cell chemical, thermal and electrical heterogeneities.The collaborative work described builds upon a previous partnership with Rio Tinto Aluminium that looked precisely at the alumina dissolution kinetics. The scope of the research program was extended in order to improve the understanding of the root causes of the chemical, thermal and electrical heterogeneities in an electrolysis cell. The work will directly lead to potential improvements and solutions to increase the homogeneity in an electrolysis cell. By doing so, the electrolysis cell will consume a lower amount of electrical energy as well as significantly reducing the frequency of process perturbations generating important amounts of greenhouse gases (GHG), specifically the perfluorocarbon gases (PFC). The different projects within the scope of this research will be based on mathematical modeling, simulations, experimental low-temperature analog systems, experimental high-temperature molten salt setups, data analytics of industrial data and in situ industrial measurements.The primary aluminum industry represents a very important sector in the Canadian economy. The Canadian smelters excel worldwide in their energy efficiency and low environmental impact. RTA, the third biggest producer of primary metal is also a technology leader. The expected results will help the Canadian aluminum industry to keep its leading position in the increasingly stronger international competition.