On the bath flow, alumina distribution and anode gas release in aluminum cells

Abstract

The bath flow was studied in prebake cells. The measurements were performed by recording the drop in bath temperature subsequent to alumina feeding as well as by adding tracer to the bath followed by subsequent bath sampling. The horizontal flow rate varied between 2 and 10 cm/s. It was found that the horizontal bath flow in the bulk above the working surface of the anodes and consequently the alumina distribution pattern are mainly determined by the bath flow from underneath the anodes. The quantity of anode gas which was drained into the centre channel was measured at different locations in a cell. The results showed that the distribution of the anode gas in the bath is strongly associated with the bath flow pattern under the anodes.