RUSAL installed unique equipment at Krasnoyarsk aluminium smelter to broaden range of alloys

RUSAL, the world’s largest aluminium producer, announces the development and launch of a unique magnetic hydrodynamic mixer which will enable the Krasnoyarsk aluminium smelter’s cast house to extend its alloy product range. The cost of the new equipment amounts to USD 2 million.

The magnetic hydrodynamic mixer will enable the Krasnoyarsk aluminium smelter (KrAZ) to produce 1000, 3000, 5000 and 8000 series alloys and to increase the production quality. In particular, the new inductor can mix metal in 100-tonne holding furnaces with the use of a magnetic field, without the metal inside ever being touched. As a result, the smelter will produce top quality rolling slabs, which can be used for cans and printing production.

The equipment will allow KrAZ to increase its exposure to most in-demand alloys. The smelter’s top priority is to develop strong ties with consumers from Asian countries such as Japan, China, and South Korea while increasing the share of orders from Europe and CIS.

The new equipment is installed on the casting assembly which includes two 100-tonne mixers. Can alloys include higher-melting-point materials: manganese, iron, titan. To obtain an alloy homogeneity in terms of chemical composition and temperature, the mass must be well-mixed. Magnetic hydrodynamic mixer performs this operation with greater efficiency, saving energy and reducing sludge formation.

Magnetic hydrodynamic mixer was developed jointly by Krasnoyarsk scientists and metallurgists. The new equipment was developed, delivered and installed by the Krasnoyarsk Research and Production Centre for Magnetic Hydrodynamics. While the equipment was being put into operation, an active part was taken by technicians of all of RUSAL’s business units based in Krasnoyarsk: KrAZ, Engineering and Technology Centre, and Russian Engineering Company branch. The project was supported by the Krasnoyarsk “Science” fund.

“The development of Krasnoyarsk scientists is of interest to all aluminium smelters in Russia and abroad. Although magnetic hydrodynamic mixers have been installed and are being successfully operated by nearly all RUSAL’s Siberian smelters, this particular installation is unique. For the very first time in the history of non-ferrous metal production, a magnetic hydrodynamic mixer was incorporated into existing production process with production suspended for just 10 days. During this time, we changed the design of the mixer, mounted a drawer made of non-magnetic steel and installed an inductor,” said UC RUSAL’s Technical Director Viktor Mann, commenting on the specialness of the equipment.