COMPUTATIONAL MODELING OF THERMOPHYSICAL PROCESSES IN THE LIGHT-METALS INDUSTRY

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.