In the electrolytic production of aluminum, the properties of the electrolyte have a significant effect on the results of the production process. The chemical composition and temperature of the electrolyte, which can be obtained by the different types of measurements, are important.
In diploma thesis are accurately described key differences between “insitu” measurements of the properties of the electrolyte with STARProbe™., and XRD analysis of the electrolyte. Measurements of the properties of the electrolyte with STARProbe™ is a new procedure, which was introduced in Talum. The four bath properties are measured by it: bath temperature, ∆T (superheat), excess aluminium fluoride (AlF3) and alumina concentration (Al2O3). The measurements are based on DTA analysis, which allows to obtain results in just 4 minutes. In the traditional method with the XRD results were not available until after 6-8 hours.
The purpose of this diploma thesis is to determine differences in the results of the concentration (excess) of aluminum fluoride with XRD analysis and measurements with STARProbe ™, the effect of aluminum fluoride on ΔT, the effect of ΔT on alumina concentration, the increase in the operating efficiency of electrolytic cells using STARProbe ™, and the economic viability of introducing STARProbe ™.
|
