Uniform cathode current collection/distribution effect on cell stability (nine months of continuous treatment of a sick cell)

Abstract

This paper describes a useful experience, which was conducted duringlast year’s start-up and potroom operation regarding a sick cell treatment in an aluminum smelter in Iran, which we will call smelter X in this paper. Different parameters in the potroom have influence on cell stability, which need to be considered all together. Metal pad stability is the main concern for a smooth operation in an aluminum smelter to reach a low noise level and a high current efficiency. One of smelter X’s aluminum reduction cells, which was started with good and smooth operating parameters, turned into a sick cell with a very high noise level two months after its start up. A special team started to monitor, test, analyze and try different strategies to bring the cell back to normal condition. This paper is a summary of the aforementioned challenge, team endeavor, possible solutions and final results to overcome this problematic issue.