This final report from the University of Adelaide, provides an insight into the development and testing of the solar expanding vortex receiver for Alumina processing and their plans for scale-up and commercialisation.
Report extract
This comprehensive report, conducted by the University of Adelaide, explores the integration of concentrating solar thermal (CST) technologies into the Alumina Bayer process. The use of CST can potentially replace the use of natural gas and significantly reduce operating costs. Alumina production, a vital component of Australia’s high-temperature mineral processing industry, annually produces approximately 20 million tonnes. This final report provides an insight into the integration of the solar expanding vortex receiver (SEVR) to reheat warm air or steam to temperatures of over 1000 degrees with estimated efficiency over 80%. Additionally, calculated levelized cost of heating for solar thermal steam could range as low as AUD $14 -$24/GJ.
