THE SODERBERG TECHNOLOGY: PROBLEMS OR ADVANTAGES IN THE FUTURE

摘要

One of the key problems, which world's aluminium producers face today, is how to reduce environmental impact caused by production of aluminium. RUSAL, one of the biggest 'Soderberg users', continues its research programme aimed at reduction of environmental harm by means of modernising Soderberg cells, installing additional gas treatment facilities, as well as searching for possible ways to improve today's processes. RUSAL's Engineering & Technology Centre (ETC) spearheads the company's initiatives to cut emissions of volatile hydrocarbons into air (bringing them in line with the OSPAR Convention), reduce anode paste consumption 5-8% and raise current density up to the unprecedented 0.88 A/sq. cm (210 kA). The new Soderberg technology, or so-called "colloidal anode", is being developed by means of improvements and optimisations. The implementation of the new technology is being done with reasonable investments, providing for its economic competitiveness and environmental viability.