Patents Assigned to Alcoa of Australia Limited
  • Patent number: 9186596
    Abstract: Odorant from a process stream is removed by passing the stream (18) to a counter-current contacting device (12) for stripping odorants. The odorants passes from the contacting device (12) as contaminated steam (26) while the remaining process stream passes directly to a “tube side” of a falling film evaporator (14) and is heated producing steam that passes into the counter-current contacting device (12) to strip that process stream and produce the contaminated steam (26). This contaminated steam from the contacting device (12) passes through a vapor compression step (16) from which it is introduced into a “shell side” of the falling film evaporator (14) and in which it heats the process stream passing from the contacting device (12) into the evaporator (14). The contaminated steam that is not condensed in the falling film evaporator passes as a low flow vent gas (50) in which the odorants have been concentrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Alcoa of Australia Limited
    Inventor: Peter Stewart Hay
  • Patent number: 9187337
    Abstract: Methods, and related products and compositions, of increasing the stability of a Bayer process liquor are described. A method of increasing the stability of a Bayer process liquor includes contacting the Bayer process liquor with a ppm quantity of a low molecular weight dextran. Also described are methods, and related products and compositions, for controlling the precipitation of aluminum-containing compounds from a Bayer process liquor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Alcoa of Australia Limited
    Inventors: Glen Alan Hanna, Mitch Loan, Felicia Ai-Nee Lee
  • Publication number: 20140051153
    Abstract: A process for the destruction of organics in a Bayer process stream, the process comprising the steps of: a) Passing a volume of a Bayer process stream to a reactor vessel in which is provided a population of a mixed bacterial culture; and b) Retaining that volume of the Bayer process stream in the reactor vessel for a period of time during which at least 10% by mass as carbon of the organic compounds destroyed originate from non-oxalate organic compounds, wherein the mixed bacterial culture comprises a mix of bacterial species capable of destroying organics and which has previously been adapted to the Bayer process stream, or a stream of substantially similar composition, prior to introduction to the reactor vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Alcoa of Australia Limited
    Inventors: Anthony John McKinnon, Christopher Lawrence Baker
  • Publication number: 20140010742
    Abstract: Methods, and related products and compositions, of increasing the stability of a Bayer process liquor are described. A method of increasing the stability of a Bayer process liquor includes contacting the Bayer process liquor with a ppm quantity of a low molecular weight dextran. Also described are methods, and related products and compositions, for controlling the precipitation of aluminium-containing compounds from a Bayer process liquor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2011
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: ALCOA OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED
    Inventors: Glen Alan Hanna, Mitch Loan, Felicia Ai-Nee Lee
  • Publication number: 20120175240
    Abstract: Odorant from a process stream is removed by passing the stream (18) to a counter-current contacting device (12) for stripping odorants. The odorants passes from the contacting device (12) as contaminated steam (26) whilst the remaining process stream passes directly to a “tube side” of a falling film evaporator (14) and is heated producing steam that passes into the counter-current contacting device (12) to strip that process stream and produce the contaminated steam (26). This contaminated steam from the contacting device (12) passes through a vapour compression step (16) from which it is introduced into a “shell side” of the falling film evaporator (14) and in which it heats the process stream passing from the contacting device (12) into the evaporator (14). The contaminated steam that is not condensed in the falling film evaporator passes as a low flow vent gas (50) in which the odorants have been concentrated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: ALCOA OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED
    Inventor: Peter Stewart Hay
  • Patent number: 5858325
    Abstract: A process for the agglomeration of powder or dust of alumina containing material (herein referred to as "alumina powder"), wherein an aqueous slurry of the alumina powder is formed, the slurry containing a sufficient quantity of an inorganic binder comprising a polymer form of a hydroxy salt of aluminum. The slurry is subjected to a spray drying operation to form agglomerated granules of the alumina powder, and the granules then are calcined at an elevated temperature for their consolidation. The alumina containing material comprises Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.nH.sub.2 O, wherein n is in the range of from 0 to 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignees: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organisation, Alcoa of Australia Limited
    Inventors: John Sydney Hall, Barry James Robson, Timothy Raymond Barton
  • Patent number: 4943367
    Abstract: High purity coke particularly suited to the production of anodes for aluminium smelting is produced by an integrated process that includes flash pryolysis and delayed coking. In the integrated process, flash pyrolysis of carbonaceous materials such as coal, oil shale or tar sand is operated under conditions that maximize the production of tar suitable for coking, and the delayed coking is operated under conditions that maximize the coke yield, and intermediate products may be recycled to enhance overall efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1990
    Assignees: Comalco Aluminum Limited, Alcoa of Australia Limited, Alcan Australia Limited
    Inventors: John C. Nixon, John A. Eady, Christopher G. Goodes
  • Patent number: 4333525
    Abstract: A heat exchanger jacket having a substantially tubular body portion is adapted to surround portion of a fluid containing pipe. Two fluid conduits on opposite sides, and connected adjacent opposite end portions, of the body portion lie non-radially in relation to the body portion and may be formed and connected in such a manner as to impart a turbulent swirling or helical path to fluid passing through the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Assignee: Alcoa of Australia Limited
    Inventors: David D. Ikin, Paul G. Butler, Christopher D. Sassella, James K. Oliver