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December 15, 2009
Breakthrough for Alcoa R&D Group
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Alcoa’s global alumina refining research and development group, based in Western Australia, has achieved a significant breakthrough in both health and safety and production technology.
The Technology Delivery Group (TDG) has created one of the most complex chemical processing robots in the world which is helping to optimise the performance of Alcoa’s alumina refineries worldwide - including the company’s WA operations in Kwinana, Pinjarra and Wagerup.
The new robotic system, known as ‘ROXAN’ which stands for Robotic Oxalate Analysis, has been custom built by Alcoa’s in-house scientists in collaboration with local industry. The system eliminates a number of potential occupational risks, including exposure to fumes and repetitive strain injuries.
TDG Project Officer, Kim-Louise Burke said: “This has best practise safety systems and removes any human and machine interaction.”
The robot carries out the complex chemical preparation required for the analysis of oxalate. Oxalate is an extremely important impurity in the alumina refining process. TDG has in-depth knowledge of the behaviour of oxalate in all of Alcoa’s refineries, derived from the ability to carry out thousands of oxalate analyses per year. The oxalate analysis is used to optimise refinery performance.
“We simply could not afford to do the number of analyses we currently do if we didn’t have the new robot - it saves many millions of dollars,” said TDG Program Manager Dr Michael Nunes.
“The robot can work overnight and therefore has the ability to prepare 500 samples in any 24 hour period which significantly helps us to meet project needs. This is important because it frees up our scientists to be working on other new discoveries,” Ms Burke said.
“It took us about two years to design and build the robotic system and it provides very fast, precise and safe oxalate analysis at very low operating cost,” Dr Nunes said.
TDG based at the Kwinana Refinery has been developing innovative new equipment and processes for cleaner, more efficient production at Alcoa refineries since 1968. TDG consistently helps to solve environmental challenges through developing and implementing new technology solutions across Alcoa’s global refining system.
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