4 ms·

Virtual battery, there is an interesting project to do a similar thing with aluminum smelters where you heat them and operate at full capacity off-peak and then

by s0rce 5y ago

Virtual battery, there is an interesting project to do a similar thing with aluminum smelters where you heat them and operate at full capacity off-peak and then during peak electricity usage you run slower. Since a smelter consumes so much power this can significantly level the grid usage.

Scoundreller 5y ago
My dream was that you would exchange a bin of bauxite for aluminum for your home smelter. All the "waste" heat goes into heating your home.
- perihelions 5y ago
  Not sure there's currently any sane way to put that into a house -- the industrial process involves a hydrogen fluoride loop. It's a interesting idea though. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall%E2%80%93H%C3%A9roult_process https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall%E2%80%93H%C3%A9roult_proc...
- injidup 5y ago
  I have worked in an aluminium smelter, given the heart stopping magnetic fields, toxic fumes and potential for explosion when even a small amount of water gets in I can say I really don't want this under my house
WhompingWindows 5y ago
Would that be economical? Places with abundant geothermal power like Iceland are probably going to make much cheaper aluminum smelting than anywhere else.
- aaron695 5y ago
  Iceland's power is hydro. (It's only ~26% geothermal) The Aluminum smelting is done on hydro not geothermal. Iceland is small compared to the USA or Indonesia for geothermal power. Large per capita, but Mexico has more geothermal power. https://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/the-top-10-geothermal-countries-2018-based-on-installed-generation-capacity-mwe/ https://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/the-top-10-geothermal-countri... (Iceland also has geothermal heating for housing which works well)
- s0rce 5y ago
  Usually its done with standard hydropower not geothermal, lots of aluminum smelting in Quebec. China produces like 10x more than the next highest producing country.
- diarrhea 5y ago
  Not all thermal energy is created equal. The temperature level plays a huge role, and I imagine geothermal is on the low end. Suitable for household heating and the like, but not for smelting metal. From hydro, you generate electricity, and that can be converted to thermal energy on very high temperature levels.

by s0rce 5y ago

Scoundreller 5y ago

My dream was that you would exchange a bin of bauxite for aluminum for your home smelter. All the "waste" heat goes into heating your home.

perihelions 5y ago
Not sure there's currently any sane way to put that into a house -- the industrial process involves a hydrogen fluoride loop. It's a interesting idea though. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall%E2%80%93H%C3%A9roult_process https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall%E2%80%93H%C3%A9roult_proc...
injidup 5y ago
I have worked in an aluminium smelter, given the heart stopping magnetic fields, toxic fumes and potential for explosion when even a small amount of water gets in I can say I really don't want this under my house

WhompingWindows 5y ago

Would that be economical? Places with abundant geothermal power like Iceland are probably going to make much cheaper aluminum smelting than anywhere else.

aaron695 5y ago
Iceland's power is hydro. (It's only ~26% geothermal) The Aluminum smelting is done on hydro not geothermal. Iceland is small compared to the USA or Indonesia for geothermal power. Large per capita, but Mexico has more geothermal power. https://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/the-top-10-geothermal-countries-2018-based-on-installed-generation-capacity-mwe/ https://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/the-top-10-geothermal-countri... (Iceland also has geothermal heating for housing which works well)
s0rce 5y ago
Usually its done with standard hydropower not geothermal, lots of aluminum smelting in Quebec. China produces like 10x more than the next highest producing country.
diarrhea 5y ago
Not all thermal energy is created equal. The temperature level plays a huge role, and I imagine geothermal is on the low end. Suitable for household heating and the like, but not for smelting metal. From hydro, you generate electricity, and that can be converted to thermal energy on very high temperature levels.