- Reference product
- Primary aluminium
- Functional unit
- 1000 kg
- Geography
- China (CN) · Geographic precision not specified
- Reference year
- 2017
- Data source
- TianGong Think Tank
This dataset describes material and energy use in the ingot casting stage inside aluminium smelters. The functional unit is a given mass of smelter grade aluminium ingots. The inventory is compiled from survey data for casthouses in several Chinese smelters reported in the paper and covers the main operations after liquid metal enters the casting shop, including degassing, deslagging, casting and cooling. Inputs include liquid aluminium from the electrolysis section, fuels such as natural gas for holding and heating, electricity for casting and handling equipment and small amounts of refining agents, mould release agents and packaging materials. Outputs consist of solidified ingots and metal losses in the form of dross and cropped ends. The inventory represents material flows and energy use from the point where liquid metal reaches the casthouse to ingot formation and packaging and does not include upstream electrolysis or downstream fabrication
