Greenhouse Emissions in Primary Aluminium Smelter Cast Houses - A Life Cycle Analysis

Abstract

The aluminium industry is reducing its carbon dioxide emissions and environmental footprint. In order to identify and prioritise areas in the cast house where greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced it is necessary to quantify CO2e (CO2 equivalent tonnes) emissions for the various cast house operations. In this study two typical cast house layouts are examined. In one case, 22kg 99.85% aluminium remelt ingots are produced using chain conveyor ingot casting machines. In the second case, wrought alloy extrusion and rolling slab direct chill cast products are made. Both plants are sized at 500ktpa. The various process inputs in terms of energy and materials were identified and typical usage rates assigned. The results show that general electricity consumption, dross generation and furnace energy consumption are the three biggest areas of CO2e and should be targeted for improvement. Magnesium consumption also has a large effect in the case of the