Dimensional analysis in cold water model experiments of new cathode structure aluminum cell

Abstract

Compared with the traditional cathode structure cell, the new cathode structure cell can restrain the level fluctuations of aluminum liquid, effectively reduce polar distance and decrease cell voltage, it makes greatly electricity saving into reality. In this paper, using cold water model experiment based on principle of similitude to study the level fluctuations by anode gas disturbance, and investigate the rules of level fluctuations in new cathode structure electrolytic cell. Numerical simulation of the anode structure with Fluent was also carried out. Simulation results are basically consistent with experimental results, which can verify possibilities of using Fluent to investigate fluctuations in the interface of cell. According to the analysis of experimental data, the empirical formula of amplitude are obtained by using dimensional analysis, which are associated to a variety of material factors, operating factors, equipment factors. After the theoretical analysis, Dimensionless equation is in good agreement with experimental results.