Constellation, le dépôt institutionnel de l'Université du Québec à Chicoutimi

Résumé

Aluminum production requires the use of carbon anodes. Anode quality influences strongly the cell stability, energy consumption, green house gas (GHG) emissions, and production cost. Current practice for anode quality evaluation (visual inspection and analysis of a core taken from the top of a small number of anodes produced) gives limited information. A simple and non-intrusive technique has been developed to measure the electrical resistivity distribution in industrial anodes with the objective of using it for on-line quality control in the paste plant to eliminate defective green anodes. This helps avoid the unnecessary baking of substandard anodes and reduces energy consumption and GHG emissions. The technology could ultimately be used also for baked anodes. The electrical resistivity is a distinctive characteristic of anode quality, and its distribution indicates anode homogeneity. In this article, the measurement technique will be explained and results will be presented which demonstrate its use for the determination of anode quality.