Japanese aluminum alloy energy-saving energy storage equipment processing

A series of technical research and industrial experiments have been carried out [1-5], and a deep knowledge in energy-saving technology system for aluminum electrolysis has been formed. Aluminum Electrolysis Energy Saving Series Technology based on Steady Flow and Heat Preservation (FHEST) has been successfully developed.

To this regard, this study focuses on the use of aluminum as energy storage and carrier medium, offering high volumetric energy density (23.5 kWh L −1), ease to transport and stock (e.g., as ingots), and is neither toxic nor dangerous when stored. In addition, mature production and recycling technologies exist for aluminum.

Extremely important is also the exploitation of aluminum as energy storage and carrier medium directly in primary batteries, which would result in even higher energy efficiencies. In addition, the stored metal could be integrated in district heating and cooling, using, e.g., water–ammonia heat pumps.

Assuming a current efficiency of 95%, these voltages result in an electrical consumption of 13, 15 and 13.3 MWhe/tAl respectively. When comparing to the energy stored in aluminum, this corresponds to efficiencies of 66.2%, 57.4%, and 64.7%, when only considering electricity as the energy input.

Calcination alone requires around 1.6 MWh of thermal energy per tonne of aluminum produced, which is currently provided using natural gas. 31 Alumina processing should eventually be decarbonized, either through direct electrification, the use of clean fuels, or even concentrated solar power. 32

This performance improvement corresponds to a further increase in RTE (P2P) to about 30% based on the actual energy consumption available from the aluminum industry. In addition, such an interesting performance could rise even further (36.3%) according to the expected technological developments in the aluminum production.