Handling CO2EQ from an aluminum electrolysis cell

Abstract

The increased focus on reduction of energy consumption and preserving our environment will affect a lot of industries in the coming years, and this will indeed be the case also for the aluminum industry. Hydro believes that aluminum is a part of a sustainable future and wants to take an active part in developing a more environmentally friendly production process. Most of Hydro's electricity used for aluminum production is based on water power, but the plants in Kurri Kurri, Australia and Neuss, Germany are based on coal power and our new smelter in Qatar will be based on gas power. This paper gives an insight in Hydro's plans for reduction of the carbon footprint from their primary production plants around the world by keeping their focus aiming at elimination of AE and production of CF gases. Hydro also has developed a gas suction technology enabling partial CO2 capture from their electrolysis cells, as well as reduction of the net gas suction volume, with promising results.