Kinetics of alumina dissolution in aluminium electrolysis cells

本提案旨在进一步加深对铝电解槽中氧化铝溶解过程的理解，以提高操作稳定性和更好的能源效率。预期的改进提供了在原铝生产过程中更好地控制温室气体排放的潜力。 拟议的与力拓加铝公司（RTA）的合作研究旨在更好地控制氧化铝分布的空间和时间变化。该项目建立在前五年NSERC-RTA合作研究的结果基础上，题为“铝电解槽中氧化铝溶解和侧壁行为的研究”。在该项目中，我们扩展了有关工业电解槽中氧化铝溶解的性质和机制的基本知识，并确定了进一步研究的方向。 采用实验和数学建模相结合的方法对氧化铝加料过程进行研究。之前的合作研究项目帮助建立了一个非常高效的团队，拥有来自学术界（UQAC和École Polytechnique）和RTA（Arvida研发中心和法国制造研究所）的互补专业知识的合格成员。 原铝工业是加拿大经济中一个非常重要的部门。加拿大冶炼厂在能源效率和低环境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，也是技术领导者。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。

The present proposal aims at the further deepening of understanding of the alumina dissolution process in aluminum electrolysis cells in order to improve operational stability and better energy efficiency. The expected improvements offer the potential of a better control of greenhouse gas emissions during primary aluminum production. The proposed collaborative research with Rio Tinto Alcan (RTA), aims at the better control of spatial and temporal variations of the alumina distribution. The project builds upon the results of the previous five-year NSERC-RTA collaborative research, titled "Study of Alumina Dissolution and Side-ledge Behaviour in Aluminium Electrolysis Cells". In that project we extended the fundamental knowledge about the nature and mechanisms of alumina dissolution in industrial cells and we identified the directions of further research. Experimental methods and mathematical modeling will be both used to study the alumina feeding process. The previous cooperative research project helped to forge a very efficient team, with competent members with complementary expertise both from academia (UQAC and École Polytechnique) and RTA (Arvida Research and Development Center and Laboratoire de Recherches des Fabrications, en France). 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.