20. Sensitive Load Management in Captive Power Plant—Aluminium Smelter

Production of aluminium involves two major stages: refining of bauxite to alumina and smelting of alumina to aluminium. Smelting is a highly energy intensive and sensitive process. Any disruption in power supply to the electrolytic cells leads to stoppage of pot-line operation and damages the cells. Hence, the most important life support system for an aluminium smelter is the continuous supply of reliable power to its’ potline. Therefore, are liable power supply system is highly essential to ensure the continuous power supply from both the internal or external sources. So making a balance system among necessary power requirement in smelter and power generation in captive power plant and available capacity in power grid (as external sources) is a challengeable task. Hence, always a robust power network is made available, which operates in a very reliable manner to manage continuous power supply to a mega-aluminium smelter.