| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2020 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
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| Symposium
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Process Metallurgy and Electrochemistry of Molten Salts, Liquid Metal Batteries, and Extra-terrestrial Materials Processing: An EPD Symposium in Honor of Don Sadoway
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| Presentation Title |
Open-circuit Explosions and Basement Thermite Fires Threaten Aluminum Potlines
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| Author(s) |
Alton T. Tabereaux |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Alton T. Tabereaux |
| Abstract Scope |
Four aluminum smelters have experienced an open-circuit arc-flash explosion in an individual cell which resulted in lengthy electrical power interruptions greater than four hours and shutting down all the other cells in potlines. Two smelters continued to operate potlines after an open-circuit incident when the power outage was less than three hours.
Five aluminum smelters experienced basement thermite fires in an individual cell due to the spillage of molten aluminum into the basement. Three of these smelters shut-down all the cells in the potline due to lengthy power interruptions. Two smelters were able to continue operation after the thermite fire by constructing a temporary by-pass conductor around the damaged cell in less than threes hours.
This article examines the various causes and mechanism of open-circuit explosions and thermite fires in individual cells and explores some of the pathways that smelters can use to possibly prevent and/or survive these dangerous incidents.
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| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: Supplemental Proceedings volume |