Thermodynamic simulation of the Bayer process

Königsberger, E. (2008) Thermodynamic simulation of the Bayer process. International Journal of Materials Research (formerly Zeitschrift fuer Metallkunde), 99 (02). pp. 197-202.

Abstract

The Gibbs energy minimiser incorporated in the thermodynamic subroutine library ChemApp and a thermodynamically consistent, ten-component Bayer liquor model were applied to a simulation of the Bayer process employed worldwide for the refining of alumina from bauxite ores. As well as the liquor cycle from digestion, clarification, precipitation, evaporation and back to digestion (including flash cooling and heating steps), calcination to alumina in a circulating fluid bed furnace was simulated. The present study not only covers temperature and concentration ranges from boehmite digestion to gibbsite precipitation, it also permits exploration of boehmite precipitation as a potential energy saving modification of the process. Furthermore, the simulation is able to predict the accumulation and precipitation of undesirable impurities in various stages of the liquor circuit. It also identifies possible reductions in the overall energy consumption of the Bayer process.

Publication Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation:	School of Chemical and Mathematical Science
Publisher:	Carl Hanser Verlag
Copyright:	© Carl Hanser Verlag
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/5699

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