Hall-heroult cell simulator: A tool for the operation and process control

Abstract

There is a wide range of complex chemical and physical phenomena in the Hall-Heroult process that can be described by mathematical tools. Using the MatLab-Simulink software, a mathematical model has been developed to solve the dynamic status of an aluminium reduction cell. Simulink provides a very powerful graphical user interface for building sub-models as block diagrams. The cell simulator determines various process interactions. The key operating parameters such as alumina concentration, bath temperature, ledge thickness, cell voltage and many others are computed as a function of time. Raw materials and process variations effects are predicted. The model may aid at improving operating strategies that can be implemented in the process control. Applications such as the variation of ledge thickness, specific energy, bath level, AIF3 emissions are presented.