Mathematical modelling of electrochemical reactions in aluminium reduction cells

Abstract

This paper reports the mathematical modelling of electrochemical processes in the Søderberg aluminium electrolysis cell. We consider anode shape changes, variations of the potential distribution and formation of a gaseous layer under the anode surface. Evolution of the reactant concentrations is described by the system of diffusion-convection equations while the elliptic equation is solved for the Galvani potential. We compare its distribution with the CO2 density and discuss the advantages of the finite volume method and the marker-and-cell approach for mathematical modelling of electrochemical reactions. © 2009 WIT Press.