Experience with Automation and the Introduction of Casting and Degassing Technology for Improved Productivity, Product Quality and Safety at Comalco Bell Bay's VDC4 Facility

摘要

Comalco's Bell Bay Smelter has been operating a fully automated VDC facility since late 1995. Early operating experiences have been presented in a previous paper[1]. More recent operational experience and technical performance will be discussed in this paper, as will recent Technology enhancements such as the introduction of 'state of the art' slab casting LHC moulds and an Alcan Compact Degasser, replacing an Alpur D5000 operated previously for approximately ten years. The LHC Technology was introduced in November 2001 and the ACD in May/June 2002. Whilst the benefits of LHC has largely been in the area of product quality, the advantages of the ACD system has been realised in productivity performance and enhanced operator safety. The functionality of the automation system helped to provide a confident platform for the successful commissioning of both these Technologies in an environment of maximum productivity. Experiences with the introduction of these Technologies will be discussed.