A raw gas collection system (15) for collecting raw gas from a plurality of aluminum smelting pots (4) is equipped with a plurality of branch ducts (16, 16a-d). Each branch duct (16, 16a-d) is arranged to channel a respective branch flow (32, 32a-b) of raw gas from an aluminum smelting pot (4) to a collecting duct (20a), which is common to and shared by branch ducts (16, 16a-d). Several of the branch ducts (16, 16a-d) are equipped with a combined heat transfer and flow resistance generating element (17) to remove heat from the respective branch flow (32, 32a-b) of raw gas and to balance the flow of raw gas in the raw gas collecting system (15). The combined heat transfer and flow resistance generating elements (17) reduce the need for adjusting the respective branch duct (16, 16a-d) flow volumes using dampers, thereby reducing the power required to transport the raw gas through the system.