Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Towards Automation Of Aluminum Cell Ramming Process, Maryam Salem Mohamed Alkaabi

Theses

Newly installed cathode blocks in an aluminium reduction cell, expand due to a rapid increase of temperature when passing a high current at the start-up of the cell. High thermal stresses may result if cathode blocks are lined without gaps, and this can lead to cracking of the cathodes and failure of the cell. On the other hand, leaving gaps would cause failure due to molten metal infiltration in the gaps. To overcome these problems carbon-based ramming material is used to fill these gaps. Currently ‘Filling’ is carried out manually or partially automated, but this needs to be fully automated …