PROFOTECH concluded a contract to supply equipment of its own design to the Irkutsk Aluminium Plant

27 June 2013

Irkutsk aluminium plant is one of the oldest aluminium smelters in Eastern Siberia and the Russian Federation. It's a member of the United Company Russian Aluminium (UC RUSAL). The Plant was founded in 1962. Over 98% of its products are the highest grade aluminium.

The equipment supplied by Profotech (Fiber-optic current sensors with an Open Loop) will be integrated in order to measure the DC in a series of aluminium electrolysis units. The obtained data are important for the production process.The equipment will use 175 kA rated current.

The sensor of FOCS with an Open Loop is resistant to voltage dips and short-circuit, works under strong electromagnetic fields and in highly dusty conditions. It gives scope to realise any geometric configuration of a fibre-optic loop (sensor), thus not requiring precise positioning in relation to conductor.

The key advantages of fibre-optic conversion units with an open-loop for DC are the wide dynamic range of the measured currents and the temperature range of the sensor (from - 60 to + 60 degrees), the ability to measure both DC and AC current, as well as much smaller dimensional requirements.