1. |
Slotted Anodes

2. |
Corporate Overview – Vedanta Resources Plc.
1
Vedanta Aluminium Ltd is an associate company of the London Stock Exchange listed, FTSE 100 diversified
resources group Vedanta Resources Plc. Originally incorporated in 2001, VAL is a leading producer of
metallurgical grade alumina and other aluminium products, which cater to a wide spectrum of industries.
ABOUT Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Jharsuguda
VAL has invested in a 0.5 MTPA aluminium smelter and 1215 MW captive power plant supported by highly
modern infrastructure at Jharsuguda, Orissa.
In addition to this, construction of 1.25 MTPA aluminium smelter expansion project at Jharsuguda is under
process. The company intends to expand the fully integrated aluminium smelting capacity to around 2.75
MTPA in near future.
Jharsuguda is also the site of the 2400 MW Independent Power Plant being set up by group company
Sterlite Energy Ltd to meet the growing demand for power from both urban and rural consumers.

3. |
Process Flow – Aluminium Production
2

4. |
3
Prebake Pot

5. |
To produce 1 kg of aluminium the following
amounts of raw materials are needed:
2 kg 0.415 Kg 20 g 2 g
Alumina Carbon Aluminium fluoride Cryolite
+ =
13 - 15 kWh 1 kg
Electrical energy Aluminium
+ + +
4 kg bauxite
+ CO2 + CO + HF + CF4 + Coke + Other gases
Raw material Consumption – Production of Aluminium

6. |
Cost Sensitivity
5
2980.6
 Power is the most
important cost
driver.
 Pot Voltage can be
decreased to
decrease the DC
power consumption

7. |
Reasons for High Voltage drop across the Electrolyte
6
 During Aluminium smelting, CO2 gases are evolved.
 CO2 bubbles get accumulated under the anode – forms a high
resistance film.

8. |
Impact of reduction of bubble resistance.
7
 Minimizing of the anode gas bubble voltage drop -
One of the most economical ways to reduce
energy consumption.
 Modification of the anode surface/Introducing
slots can effectively reduce both the bubble
voltage drop and anode overvoltage
Anode Surface Slots
Reduces Energy
Consumption
and Green
House Gas
emissions

9. | 8
Risk Assessment – Press Forming
Disadvantages
 Makes green anodes more fragile
 Variable anode quality (decrease in anode
density, increase in air permeability -
 tendency to carbon dust, Spikes which
ultimately leads to reduction in CE
 Limitation to increase the slot height.
 Wide slots are made using the slot plates.
 Packing Coke tends to clog the
slots, requiring more cleaning.
 Reduces the mass of carbon and the life
of anodes
 Scrap Generation increases in GAP and bake
oven.
Advantages
▪ Negligible Capital and Operating costs
Crack initiation from a
slot in a green
anode, damaged
during handling
Anode breakage
influenced by slot
location.
Excessive
consumption at
slots during cell
operation.
Slot slumping
during baking
Spikes during Cell
Operation
POSSIBLE FAILURE MODE

10. |
Slotted Anode Configuration
9
2 Longitudinal Slots
with variable Slope

11. |
Conceptualization & Design Engineering
11
 Anode surface slots were not present in the initial design by O&M.
 In house design engineering - Calculate the appropriate slot height and slope
 Straight slots may be a problem in gas evacuation.
 Design of experiment and data analysis was performed
 Result was slanted slots are better in case of gas evacuation
 Press forming which is the most common method – sometimes lead to the formation of
Low density green anodes - results to excess coke dusting.
 recipe for preparation of green anodes analysed with varied anode density.
 Optimum Density and minimum coke dusting - Specific anode preparation recipe
formulated
 Design modifications have been made in the anode forming equipment (Vibro-
compactor). Slot blades of variable height and slope was fabricated into the equipment.
 Packing coke is used as the heat transfer mode in bake oven when green anodes are
heated to form baked anodes which if not removed will lead to excess coke dusting in
pots
 Slot cleaning machine was installed in bake oven to remove this packing coke.

12. |
Trial & Full Implementation - Impact on Energy consumption
12
14547
14587
14521
14422 14411
14608
14551
14376
14344
14303
14282
May-12 Jun-12 Jul-12 Aug-12 Sep-12 Oct-12 Nov-12 Dec-12 Jan-13 Feb-13 Mar-13
Normal Anodes used
Normal Anodes 
Slotted Anodes –
trail
Slotted Anodes – After
Stabilization Period
Normal Anodes 
Slotted Anodes –
Full Implementation
stabilization Period
322.5
324.0
323.3
324.1
324
324 324.2
324.55
325.4
325.66
325.89
May-12 Jun-12 Jul-12 Aug-12 Sep-12 Oct-12 Nov-12 Dec-12 Jan-13 Feb-13 Mar-13
Normal Anodes used
Normal Anodes 
Slotted Anodes –
trail
Slotted Anodes – After
Stabilization Period
Normal Anodes 
Slotted Anodes –
Full Implementation
stabilization Period
Consumption increased
due to external factors

13. |
Slotted Anode Trial (Line 1-Section 7)
Trial period – 27th July to 25th Oct
Benefit realized
• Reduction in Pot Voltage - a net reduction of 11 mV
• Reduction in AEF - net reduction of 0.19 no./pot day.
• Reduction in Noise - a net reduction of 1.66 mV.
• Net saving in Power Consumption of 35.2 kWh/MT. (190 MU/Year)
• Reduction in PFC & CO2 Emissions – Net reduction by 50% in trial
section
All benefits shown are excluding the benefits realised in section 8.

14. |
Pot room Parameter Analysis for Slotted Anodes on Full line
Implementation
Implementation period – 23rd Oct’12 to 13th Jan’13
Benefits observed
• Reduction in Pot Voltage - a net reduction of 21 mV.
• Reduction in AEF - 0.09 no./pot day.
• Reduction in Noise - a net reduction of 3.9 mV
• Net saving in Power Consumption of 67.3 kWh/MT. (344 MU/Year)
• Amperage Ramp – Net increase of 3.1 KA. Production Volume
Increased by 0.106 T/Day
• Reduction in PFC & CO2 Emissions – Net reduction by 30% in
whole pot line.

15. |
Intangible Gains - Impact on Environment
15
 Conservation of non renewable resources of energy.(Coal & Oil)
 Power consumption reduced by 344 MU/Year.
 Emissions of green house gases (PFC) has been reduced by 50%.
 Manpower productivity has improved.
 Anode effect frequency has been decreased to a large extent -
productivity has increased.
 Reduction trend was seen in consumption of green poles
 AEF had reduced by 50%.
 Elimination of Safety and health hazard
 reduced anode effect frequency and immediate auto quenching
methods - operators are now less exposed to hot furnace
conditions.

16. |
Future Readiness of Slotted Anodes
17
Increasing Slot Depth
Slot Cutting
Other Energy Reduction
initiatives

17. |
Other Smelters Slot Heights
18
Benefits of Slotted Anodes enjoyed by other smelters:
• For a slot depth equal to half the anode’s life, the voltage benefit is estimated between 35-66mV for Rio
Tinto Aluminium managed plants.[2]
• Voltage reduction of 45mV/pot by implementation of Slotted Anodes (HINDALCO, Renukoot)[3]
It can be seen that increasing slot depth from 10 to 20cm is
worth approximately 20mV in reduced bubble resistance
Smelter
Slot Height
(mm)
Anode
Height
(mm)
% Slot
Height
NALCO * (Press forming) 120,100 560 21.40%
HINDALCO 180,160 645 27.90%
BALCO 182,176 580 31.40%
ALBA 215,190.5 650 33.10%
MOZAL 250,230 650 38.50%
EMAL (Phase-1) 250,200 650 38.50%
Hill Side 290,270 650 44.60%
EMAL (Phase-2)* 320,300 685 46.70%
VAL (Press Forming) 207.5,200 575 36.00%
VAL (Slot Cutting) 300,280 575 52.00%
* Note: NALCO and EMAL Phase-2 are using On line Slot cutting technique

18. | 19
Online Slot Cutting
High Capital Cost
Life time of Saw
Blade
Advantages
 No Variation in anode quality
 Higher Slot height than press forming
 More slots possible, more closely spaced
 Increases active area
Disadvantage
 Initial investment on Slot Cutting Machine
and operating cost
 Life time of a saw blade is a potential
problem (45000 Anodes per blade is
reported as per Brochot – Supplier of
Machine to NALCO)
 Handling and recycling of granular
carbon dust.
 Scrap Generation increases in bake
Oven.
On Line Anode Slot
Cutting

19. | 20
THANK YOU !!!!!