Development of Industrial Benchmark FEA Model to Study Energy Efficient Electrical Connections for Primary Aluminium Smelters
The aim of the project is to improve the energy efficiency of High Amperage Electrical Connections for Aluminium Smelters via reduced electrical resistance at the contact interface of the cast iron to carbon (anode or cathode) interface. CSIRO will develop an advanced model to specifically investigate thermo–electric–mechanical effects of (initially) the stub to carbon region as this is an area that is of considerable interest to the aluminium smelting industry.
The effort will work towards identifying smelter process improvements in the order of 5MW per plant (50,000tCO2e pa for a coal based electricity) typical.
In order to develop an advanced model, an industrial benchmark is required using industry standard software (Abaqus) and industry available computing. Several stages of cross checking, validation and refinement will be required to ensure the CSIRO model predictions are in line with those able to be obtained with industrial quality modelling. Universities want to develop their expertise with this type of modelling on commercial based software platform and this represents an ideal opportunity for them to get started on this front.
It is proposed to engage a suitably experienced university researcher to establish the benchmark FEA model.
-
Stage 1 of the work involves developing a reference point (benchmark) for a generic industrial model drawn from publicly available information and industry experience. There are only a handful of people known globally that have done this particular type of modelling successfully, the majority of them are presently retained by industry, however one of them is presently a Post Doc at Swinburne University (within Ajay Kapoor’s team).
This work would start immediately. - Stage 2 of the work would entail the crosschecking of functionality and validity of the developed CSIRO Advanced Model, this work would be undertaken towards the second half of 2011.
Contact
- Name
- Prof Ajay Kapoor
- Department
- Associate Dean, Research
- Telephone
- +61 3 9214 8202
- akapoor@groupwise.swin.edu.au
Funding sources
CSIRO Flagship Collaboration Research (FCR) Fund
Key project team members
Swinburne University of Technology
CSIRO - Light Metals
- Name
- Mr David Molenaar
- Department
- CSIRO Process Science and Engineering
- Telephone
- +61 3 9545 88932
- David.Molenaar@csiro.au
