Energy and Exergy Analyses of Different Aluminum Reduction Technologies

Mazin Obaidat, Ahmed Al-Ghandoor, Patrick Phelan, Rene Villalobos and Ammar Alkhalidi
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Mazin Obaidat: Department of Industrial Engineering, The Hashemite University, Az-Zarqa 13133, Jordan
Ahmed Al-Ghandoor: Department of Industrial Engineering, The Hashemite University, Az-Zarqa 13133, Jordan
Patrick Phelan: Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
Rene Villalobos: Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
Ammar Alkhalidi: Energy Engineering Department, German Jordanian University, Amman 11180, Jordan

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 4, 1-21

Abstract: This paper examines and compares different aluminum reduction technologies found in the literature as alternatives to the current Hall–Heroult technology. The main inefficiencies in the current Hall–Heroult technology were identified and the advantages of the different proposed technologies over the Hall–Heroult technology were determined. The comparison between the different technologies, namely Hall–Heroult, wetted drained cathode, inert anode, and carbothermic, was based on energy and material requirements, and environmental impact. In order to combine all of the evaluation criteria into one numerical value, the exergy concept was utilized as a decision tool. The results emphasize that in order to analyze any conversion system, the exergy of energy, material, environmental impact, and their associated chain production should be taken into consideration.

Keywords: exergy; aluminum; Hall–Heroult; inert anode; wetted drained cathode; carbothermic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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