This survey focuses on the aluminium industry, mostly on process aspec
ts as opposed to metallurgical aspects. It covers recent work on proce
ss models involving fluid flow and heat transfer, and extends to all i
mportant categories of processes encountered in the primary aluminium
industry, from raw materials and reduction to cast shop and recycling.
This includes a wide variety of processes from precipitators, calcine
rs, rotary kilns, baking furnaces, reduction cells, casting and mixing
furnaces to recycling furnaces and metal filtration. A review is carr
ied out on the modelling work, the applications, and the needs express
ed not only in analysis and design but also in process control, optimi
zation and supervision, as well as operator training. A summary is giv
en of the problems perceived, mainly in the field of model parameters
and model validation. Indications on future trends are also given. Con
clusions are drawn from the survey of this fast-expanding body of know
ledge that suggests tough challenges as well as unprecedented opportun
ities. Suggestions are made as to how some of those challenges could b
e met.