New Technology for Digestion of Bauxites

摘要

A number of plant design technologies are available for digestion of bauxites. Typically the major conceptual differences in these technologies revolve around the design of the heating section employed to heat liquor and bauxite slurry to the desired digestion temperature, and in the design of the equipment for extraction of alumina from the bauxite. However, the energy efficiency, operating and maintenance characteristics are determined by the overall design of the unit. This paper reviews plant design technologies commonly used for both low and high temperature digestion. It then presents new designs that utilise tubular heating technology developed by Hatch Associates Ltd (Hatch). The safety, technical, operational and cost advantages are discussed.