The ‘Virtual Battery’ — Operating an Aluminium Smelter with Flexible Energy Input

Depree, Nick; Düssel, Roman; Patel, P.; Reek, Till

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-48251-4_96

Cited by 18 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…To evaluate the benefits from DSM, we consider a generic process that is able to vary its electricity consumption and store products. Processes like these act as virtual batteries, that is, load increases act similarly to charging and load reductions to discharging a battery storage from the perspective of the electricity grid 52,53 . We remark however that these virtual batteries can obviously not have net feeding into the grid at any point in time.…”

Section: Generic Process Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do investments in flexibility enhance sustainability? A simulative study considering the German electricity sector

2020

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Current research concerning industrial demand side management primarily focuses on monetary aspects. Herein, we extend this perspective by assessing whether economically driven measures increasing the flexibility also result in reduced contributions to the residual load. For this purpose, we conduct a simulative study using historic and projected time series for the German electricity sector. First, Fourier analysis are performed to show that the main oscillation in the electricity price time series has a period length of 12 hr, whereas the renewable generation is primarily characterized by an oscillation with a period length of 24 hr. Second, a generic process model with capabilities for load shiftings is used to evaluate how the fluctuation patterns can be exploited via scheduling optimizations. Most importantly, our results demonstrate that prevalent price fluctuations prevent adequate monetary incentives for providing storage capacities for bridging up to 24 hr, which are desired for reducing the residual load.

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Section: Generic Process Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do investments in flexibility enhance sustainability? A simulative study considering the German electricity sector

2020

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“…One of the first technologies to enable aluminum cell power modulation is Enpot [3]. Using a shell heat exchanger, an aluminum cell can reject a larger excess heat staying within the target bath temperature, allowing higher energy inputs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Power Modulation Modeling of Aluminum Reduction Cells for Renewable Energy Integration

Gustavo¹,

Ospina-Aldana²,

Ali³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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“…Preventing the need for equivalent capacity produced by conventional means that would otherwise be added to the grid (Depree, Düssel, Patel, Reek, 2016). A study by N. Depree et al (2016) investigated this by using SHE to control the temperature reduction caused by downward power modulation. Tests were conducted on a group of 12 pots, with the ability to increase current by up to 25kA above the rest of the line (Depree et al, 2016).…”

Section: Energy Stabilisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A study by N. Depree et al (2016) investigated this by using SHE to control the temperature reduction caused by downward power modulation. Tests were conducted on a group of 12 pots, with the ability to increase current by up to 25kA above the rest of the line (Depree et al, 2016). Short term energy modulation were conducted to simulate the rapid fluctuation of the energy market, as seen in Figure 7.…”

Section: Energy Stabilisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Short term energy modulation were conducted to simulate the rapid fluctuation of the energy market, as seen in Figure 7. The results suggested that the frequency of these modulations were too high, as the pots were not reaching steady state before the following reduction was implemented (Depree et al, 2016). A possible scenario for further investigation would be to stagger the downward power modulation of the smelter potline.…”

Section: Energy Stabilisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Trew¹

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Demand for aluminium has increased over the last 60 years, this in conjunction with rising Australian energy prices has resulted in aluminium smelter electricity cost increasing. Additionally, within this overall energy price incline there are substantial demand and supply driven price variations for energy during each day. Smelters that rely on the electricity spot price can expect a larger variation in daily prices. Due to these factors, this thesis aims to investigate the impact an amperage reduction has on the heat, electrical and mass balance of a conventional aluminium cell. A specific focus is placed on the relationship between the reduction of electrical inputs and aluminium production. Furthermore, this thesis seeks to understand the suitable economic environment required for the amperage reduction, and the feasibility of the reduction as an energy stabilisation strategy. To achieve the aims of this project a quantitative strategy that involved the development of two models was adopted. One to simulate the heat, energy and mass balance of the cell, and the other to simulate to the economic impacts the reduction has on the cell. To analyse if amperage modulation is an effective energy stabilisation strategy, three types of reductions were tested; a step, staggered step and ramp reduction. These scenarios where tested for a reduction of 10, 15, and 20 kA. These scenarios were then compared by plotting the duration, opportunity cost and power saved. From this, the most viable reduction was selected with the use of weighted decision matrix. From this analysis the 10kA ramp reduction was deemed as the most suitable energy stabilisation strategy. As it saves 115.92 MWhr over a 3 hour period when applied to all 840 cells. Furthermore, this reduction only incurs an opportunity cost of $-33.6 over the same period of time. However, an average peak energy price of 90.17 $/MWhr was used for this analysis. By increasing the energy price and plotting the opportunity cost it was found that this strategy becomes viable when an energy price of 90.47 $/MWhr is reached. Finally, the following points where identified as areas of future study;  Further optimisation of the model can be done by constructing a 3D model that simulates the cell dynamics in more detail.  A similar study could be conducted with the use of heat exchangers to control the heat loss from the cell.

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The ‘Virtual Battery’ — Operating an Aluminium Smelter with Flexible Energy Input

Cited by 18 publications

References 1 publication

Do investments in flexibility enhance sustainability? A simulative study considering the German electricity sector

Do investments in flexibility enhance sustainability? A simulative study considering the German electricity sector

Power Modulation Modeling of Aluminum Reduction Cells for Renewable Energy Integration

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