THE ABSTRACT

Volume of world aluminium production to 2000 is estimated in 24 mln. tons per one year, from which 73% was produced on prebacked anode cells, 19% - on Vertical-stud Soderberg cells, 8% - on Horizontal-stud Soderberg cells. The world practice has shown, that the optimum capacity of Horizontal-stud Soderberg cells is 60 ... 80 kA, Vertical-stud Soderberg cells - 100 ... 120 kA, prebacked anode cells - 210 ... 280 kA. Prebacked anodes cells have got the best parameters of current efficiency, specific electric power consumption, service life, cost price of aluminium producing.

The most probable direction of increase aluminium producing in the world is the construction of smelters by capacity 250 … 300 thousand tons of aluminium per one year with prebacked anode cells. The choice of amperage for cells depends on a concrete geographic site of a smelter both appropriate economic and social situation.