China Aluminium uses Malvern particle analyser

The China Aluminium Industry Stock Company is using an Insitec on-line particle size analyser from Malvern Instruments to produce better-quality carbon at lower variable cost.

The milled carbon is used to manufacture electrodes for aluminium smelting, and particle size directly influences electrode performance.

Installation of the Insitec has led to automated control, optimised operation of the milling circuit and reduced variable costs.

The carbon is milled in a ball mill, a downstream classifier separating off the final product.

The on-line Insitec analyses more frequently and rapidly than previous methods, providing real-time data for control.

These data are used to automatically vary classifier speed, maintaining product particle size in the specified range.

Improved control has led to a reduction in over-milling, reducing energy consumption and increasing throughput.

Furthermore, because particle size is so closely controlled there have been improvements in product quality.

The Insitec is a laser diffraction-based particle size analyser designed to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week with minimal manual intervention.

It has no moving parts and accurately measures concentrated streams.

Suitable for particles in the size range 0.1-2000 microns, it has a measurement frequency of 0.25Hz (four measurements per second).

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