Industrial Gases and Technologies for the Aluminum Industry
Optimizing the Aluminum Process Flow to Enhance Customer Operations
Aluminum Melting
Linde has developed and commercialized several proprietary oxygen-injection techniques, oxy-fuel combustion systems and aluminum melting burners that enhance the productivity and efficiency of aluminum melting furnaces. Oxygen injection increases the heat available in the furnace for melting by reducing the heat loss due to hot nitrogen in the flue gas. Oxy-fuel combustion for secondary aluminum melting provides many benefits compared to conventional air/fuel combustion. These benefits include:
- Increased flame temperature
- Increased productivity
- Reduction in flue gas
- Fuel savings
The reduction in the flue gas volume and particulate material entrainment with oxy-fuel combustion greatly reduces the cost and complexity of off-gas cleaning systems.
Hydrogen for Aluminum Combustion
Hydrogen plays a transformative role in aluminum production by replacing fossil fuels in high-temperature processes like calcination, anode baking, and metal casting, offering a cleaner, carbon-free alternative. Its combustion produces only water vapor, enabling the creation of "green aluminum" that aligns with environmental goals and appeals to industries focused on sustainability, such as automotive and packaging.
Aluminum Degassing
Linde’s inert gases, such as argon and nitrogen, play a critical role in preventing oxidation during molten metal processing and are especially effective in aluminum degassing. The degassing process involves injecting pure argon, nitrogen, or specialty gases (like SF₆), often blended with chlorine, to remove dissolved hydrogen and impurities from the melt. This treatment enhances metal quality by reducing porosity and minimizing defects. Excess hydrogen in molten aluminum is particularly problematic because it can lead to shrinkage, fatigue cracking, and diminished corrosion resistance, ultimately degrading the mechanical integrity of the final product.
Aluminum Dross Cooling
Aluminum dross can form on the surface of aluminum and the weight may vary from 1% to 6% or more of total aluminum production. Dross may contain between 18 to 80% of valuable aluminum. Linde can help you develop your aluminum recovery process and increase your aluminum recovery rate by applying argon to your dross cooling process. Aluminum dross cooling is a process where the dross is skimmed and cooled in an inert gas atmosphere. It is important to work quickly and efficiently to prevent the aluminum from oxidizing, which can happen if the dross is not cooled down fast enough and remains exposed to air.
Benefits of argon for dross cooling:
- Displaces oxygen quickly
- Increases aluminum recovery rates
- Prevents oxidation of the residual metal
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