Toward Minimizing the of Co-evolution of PFC Emission in EGA Smelter

Primary aluminum smelters are known to be a dominate source for the PFC emission where changes in spatial condition of Hall-Héroult reduction cell would result to the co-evolution of CF₄. EGA smelters have gone through various process and design upgrade programs, which resulted in allowing creeping amperage to meet production requirements. Increasing production output is usually associated with reduction in bath to amperage ratio while aiming to operate at low energy input target. Sequentially, the company has developed a special program to enhance its advance cell control logic to allow operating at higher anode current density while maintaining low PFC emission. This paper investigates major activities where the co-evolution of PFC emission was detected as an anode setting activity and condition of operating at low alumina concentration in electrolyte. In-house developed individual anode current along with continuous monitoring of PFC emission in reduction cell were deployed to validate the study.