Outline of SAMI’s Magnesium Smelting Technology

SAMI is one of the earlier and largest companies in China engaged in engineering design and technological development (R&D) in the magnesium smelting industry. We have and hold electrolysis/reduction process and Thermal/Pidgeon process to produce metallic magnesium, as well as possess the suspension calcinations technology to produce light-burned magnesium oxide, and high-grade high-purity magnesium sand.

SAMI has created and achieved the "First" performance in China

Ø  The first electrolytic magnesium production line - Fushun Aluminum Plant Magnesium Workshop;

Ø  The first production line using magnesium electrolysis cells without partitions - Fushun Titanium Industry Co., Ltd.;

Ø  The first largest 100kt/a electrolytic magnesium plant in terms of production capacity- Magnesium Plant of Qinghai Salt Lake Magnesium Industry Co., Ltd.;

Ø  The first industrial scale thermal magnesium plant - Hubei Tangshan Magnesium Plant. 

In 2021, in accordance with the requirements of Chalco, SAMI established the Magnesium Resource Comprehensive Utilization Research Center, not only focusing on technology research on magnesium, but also actively extending to the R&D field of comprehensive utilization of resources such as titanium and calcium, so as to positively building of excellent composite technology innovation team with professional talents working on magnesium, titanium, calcium and other smelting technology.

At present, there are over 10 engineers on magnesium R&D, more than 30 engineers on engineering industrialization, and 10-odd external-introduced experts. We have established a composite technology innovation team featured by multiple research directions, strong scientific research capabilities, precise process technology, and rich engineering experience.

Main Technologies and Indicators of SAMI:

l  SAMI has Φ The 600 vertical-tank reduction furnace technology for thermal/ Pidgeon Process, achieving the following advanced indicators:

Ø  Single tank production capacity reaches 120kg;

Ø  Material to magnesium ratio <6.3;

Ø  Energy consumption <2.5tec.

l  SAMI has magnesium electrolysis/reduction technology of no-partition pot and 90-165kA multi-pole magnesium electrolysis/reduction pot, of which multi-pole magnesium electrolysis/reduction process is the world's most advanced electrolysis/reduction magnesium technology matching for sponge titanium production:

Ø  A single pot production capacity of 2.8-4.4t. Mg/d;

Ø  DC power consumption (in front of pot)≤ 10500 kWh/t. Mg;

Ø  Chlorine concentration ≥ 95% (Wt);

Ø  Liquid magnesium is not required to be refined for sponge titanium production.

l  SAMI is under developing the following technologies related to magnesium smelting:

Ø  Φ 1200 Large Vertical-Tank Reduction Furnace Technology for Thermal/ Pidgeon Process;

Ø  Aluminum thermal method for producing magnesium metal technology;

Ø  Suspension calcination technology for dolomite;

Ø  Relative vacuum "One-out" clean and environmental–friendly magnesium smelting technolog      

Some of Major Reference Magnesium Projects Completed and Executed by SAMI