Key Aspects on Refractories for Molten Aluminium Long-distance Delivery

摘要

The long distance (100-200 km) molten aluminum transportation (~8 Mt/trip) is a breakthrough process, which has benefits for both suppliers and customers. Among various advantages, the reduction in the customer's ingot inventory, in the energy costs and the benefits of not re-melting must be pointed out. Regarding energy savings, an increase in the delivering aluminum temperature is welcome as it reduces the homogenization time in the customer's furnace, increasing its productivity. In order to attain this objective, the refractory's thermal insulation design, the crucible's pre-heating profile and their maintenance procedure are key parameters. In this work, these aspects will be addressed, highlighting the relevant role of refractories in order to attain the customer's target. It will be shown that refractory projects involve a systemic analysis, comprising not only a suitable selection of material but also application and maintenance aspects.