Latest Filter Developments Increasing Existing Aluminium Smelter Gas Treatment Centre Capacity and Reducing Emissions

Extended surface filter technology has been used in aluminium smelters around the world to increase the dust collection and fluoride scrubbing capacity of existing GTCs. This has provided an alternative to major capital equipment upgrade and lowered the production cost per tonne of aluminium where GTC capacity limitations were restricting production.As production rates in the smelter increase with capacity creep, so too does the GTC operational temperature. While the proper application of extended surface filters can help compensate for the reduced alumina reaction rate at higher GTC operational temperatures, some smelters increased production demands are now pushing the GTC operation temperatures beyond the limits of the standard polyester filter media. Alternative traditional high temperature filter media is cost prohibitive, and this change in the aluminium smelting industry has created a new cost/solution gap in the market of commercially available filter media.This paper summarises the success of the extended surface filters, and the development of a new and cost effective higher temperature filtration media. This media, when used in conjunction with extended surface filters, will address both increasing GTC operational temperature and the demand for greater capacity from existing GTCs without the need for costly capital equipment upgrades.