Plainfield, Illin., Jan 11, 2004 - Alcan has selected HPD, a Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies company, to design and supply the new sodium aluminate evaporation train for the expansion of their alumina refinery near Nhulunbuy in Australia's Northern Territory. The expansion will increase production capacity from 2.1 to 3.8 million tonnes of alumina per annum by 2007, with the potential for additional capacity in the future through continuous improvement.
The 280 tonnes-per-hour evaporation system will concentrate spent caustic from the digestion process, which will be reused for digestion of additional ore. The new system will also use a closed-loop cooling water circuit instead of sea water. The condensate from the evaporators will be recycled to the cooling water circuit, reducing make-up water and outflow requirements.
HPD will provide complete process system design, detailed engineering, equipment and construction supervision of the sodium aluminate system. The system includes a thirteen-stage flash evaporation system and a unique heater configuration that allows for easy chemical cleaning of the system while maintaining 90% capacity.
Alcan Gove is part of Alcan Inc, a multinational, market-driven company and global leader in aluminium and packaging, as well as aluminium recycling. Alcan Gove is regarded as one of the most cost-efficient producers of alumina with a commitment to innovation and excellence. The bauxite mine and alumina refinery provide direct employment for about 1100 people and is a significant contributor to the economic development of the Northern Territory. Alcan Inc employs 88 000 people and has world-class operations in 58 countries in primary aluminium, fabricated aluminium, flexible and specialty packaging, aerospace applications, bauxite mining and alumina processing.
Contact: Timothy M. Cornish
HPD
Tel : 815-609-2042
Fax. 815-609-2044
tim.cornish@veoliawater.com