A rotary arc furnace for aluminum dross processing
- Hydro-Quebec, Shawinigan, Quebec (Canada)
Dross, a major by-product of all processes involving molten aluminum, forms at the surface of the molten metal as the latter reacts with the furnace atmosphere. It generally represents 1 to 5 wt% of the melt, depending on the process, and contains on average about 50% free aluminum dispersed in an oxide layer. Since aluminum production is highly energy-intensive, dross recycling is very attractive from both the energy and the economic standpoints. The conventional recycling process using salt rotary furnaces is thermally inefficient and environmentally unacceptable because of the salt slags produced. Hydro-Quebec has developed and patented a new salt-free technology using a rotary furnace heated by an electric arc between two graphite electrodes, called DROSCAR{reg_sign}. A 600-kW pilot plant in operation at LTEE is in use to demonstrate the process. This process provides aluminum recovery rates for over 90%, using a highly energy efficient, environmentally sound production method. In 1994, 400 tons of aluminum dross were treated in this facility and several tests on various types of dross have also been conducted in early 1995. A report on the results will be presented.
- OSTI ID:
- 175903
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9510125-; TRN: IM9606%%46
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: International symposium on environmental technologies: plasma systems and applications, Atlanta, GA (United States), 8-11 Oct 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the international symposium on environmental technologies: Plasma systems and applications. Volume 2; Mayne, P.W.; Mulholland, J.A. [eds.] [Georgia Inst. of Tech., Atlanta, GA (United States)]; PB: 392 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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