RUSAL: Installation of innovative crude aluminium cleaning system at Khakas Aluminium smelter concludes

RUSAL, a leader of the global aluminium industry concludes the installation of a modern automated system for cleaning crude aluminium in crucibles at the Khakas Aluminium Smelter (KhAZ) in Sayanogorsk.

The global aluminium giant has injected $2.7 million in the project. The introduction of the automated complex will result in an expansion in both the share of alloys and the VAP produced at KhAZ that are in demand across the rolling, automotive, food, aircraft and construction industries.

The innovative equipment produced for RUSAL in Canada will process metal in a 10-tonne crucible. It will effectively remove alkaline and alkaline earth metals from the molten aluminium and reduce the concentration of non-metallic inclusions. One of the main advantages of the TAC (Treatment of aluminium in Crucible®) technology is the complete automation of the production process it provides.

Evgenii Nikitin, CEO, RUSAL, said: "Improving the quality and purity of the products is a key goal in our modernisation programme, that is currently being carried out across RUSAL’s production facilities.  The TAC cleaning system has been operating for two years at the Sayanogorsk aluminium plant, and we are well aware of its advantages – it not only reduces metallurgical losses but also decreases the personnel workload as the process can be completed through automation. Moreover, with the new cleaning system reaching its design performance, KhAZ will be able to significantly increase the pool of potential consumers for its products.”

The unit will be commissioned in the coming month and tests with heated metal will be performed soon after. It is planned the equipment will be put into commercial operation by the end of 2020.