NEW DEVELOPMENT MODEL FOR BAUXITE DEPOSITS - DEDICATED COMPACT REFINERY

摘要

An alternative development approach for bauxite deposits proposedin a TMS 2011 paper1 results in a more efficient use of resourcesand lowers the threshold to develop bauxite & alumina projects.The new approach represents a paradigm shift from “Bigger isBetter” to “Smart & Small”, and is based on an alumina refinerywith the following characteristics:1.Dedicated plant design and layout, “designing a greenfieldplant as a brownfield expansion”, resulting in lower capitalcost per tonne of alumina (tA) capacity;2.Compact plant production capacity, resulting in a simple andlimited scope, further improving capital cost per tA capacity;and3.Sustainability embedded in the design.The current paper explores some aspects of this “DCS-model” suchas design basis, plant areas, equipment sparing and layout, appliedto a 400,000 t/y alumina refinery. Sustainability will be the subjectof a separate paper.