In the quest for more sustainable and efficient energy use, researchers from the University of New South Wales, including Choon-Jie Wong, Adam A. Larkin, Jie Bao, Maria Skyllas-Kazacos, Barry J. Welch, Nadia Ahli, Maitha Faraj, and Mohamed Mahmoud, have turned their attention to the energy-intensive process of aluminium smelting. Their work, published in the Journal of The Electrochemical Society, explores how power modulation in the Hall-Héroult process can contribute to grid stability and renewable energy integration.
The Hall-Héroult process, which is used to produce aluminium, is known for its high energy consumption. This process involves passing an electric current through a molten salt electrolyte to reduce aluminium oxide to metallic aluminium. The researchers investigated how varying the power consumption of these cells, known as power modulation, can help balance power demand and supply, effectively turning aluminium smelting cells into large-scale virtual energy storage systems.
The study focuses on optimizing the power modulation of these cells by adjusting the line current and anode-cathode distance (ACD) profiles. The goal is to maximize the profitability of the aluminium reduction cells while maintaining the cell’s thermal balance. The researchers developed a novel optimization approach that combines reduced-order and detailed models to handle the complex, spatially distributed, and multi-timescale dynamics of the cells.
The results of the study provide insights into the optimal line current and ACD profiles for different power modulation scenarios, including time-of-use electricity tariffs and spot pricing. These findings can serve as a foundation for developing online control policies for aluminium reduction cells, potentially leading to more efficient and flexible energy use in the aluminium industry.
For the energy sector, this research highlights the potential for industrial processes to contribute to grid stability and renewable energy integration. By optimizing power modulation, aluminium smelters can act as virtual energy storage systems, helping to balance the intermittency of renewable energy sources. This could lead to more efficient use of renewable energy and a more stable electrical grid.
In summary, the study by Wong and colleagues offers a promising approach to making the aluminium smelting process more energy-efficient and adaptable to renewable energy sources. Their work demonstrates the potential for industrial processes to play a role in energy storage and grid stability, contributing to a more sustainable energy future. The research was published in the Journal of The Electrochemical Society, providing a valuable resource for further exploration in this field.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.