SEPT-ÎLES, June 6, 2016 – The commissioning of a new 89-kilo-ampere transformer-rectifier was completed with success at Aluminerie Alouette’s high-voltage facilities. Representing an investment of over $28 million, this new unit will help improve the overall efficiency and maintenance of the company’s conversion equipment, paving the way for increased aluminium production in the future.
The project was deployed over a period of a little over two years, notably with no recordable injuries, even though it involved several dozen workers on the site during peak periods. The expertise of Aluminerie Alouette workers was put to good use throughout the implementation. The Substation and Automation teams were actively involved, making this large-scale endeavour a success. “By acquiring such a valuable electrical component,” asserts Strategic Development Manager Richard Lapierre, “we can not only safeguard the continuity of our operations during maintenance but also increase our aluminium-production capacity.”
More specifically speaking, the transformer-rectifier was delivered and installed by the energy technology specialists of ABB Canada Inc. Weighing over 250 tonnes and designed according to specifications very similar to those of Aluminerie Alouette’s Phase 2 facility, the component consists of two transformers sharing a single tank. There are also some 68 tonnes of aluminium busbars added to provide a connection to the existing Line 1 network, which comprises six more transformer-rectifiers. The purpose of this conversion equipment is to rectify the alternating wave power from the Hydro-Québec network into a direct-current supply (similar to a battery charger), adapted to the needs of electrolytic cells.
“Today’s economic context is not an easy one by any means. For our organization to remain sustainable, we need to invest wisely and prudently in anticipation of future needs,” adds Claude Boulanger, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aluminerie Alouette. “This transformer-rectifier is a perfect complement to the new 161-kilovolt line and a concrete example of our sustainable vision.”
