Thermo-electrical modeling of an aluminum reduction cell

Abstract

In this research a 3-D thermo-electrical model for an aluminium reduction cell is developed and the effect of operational parameters on the thermo-electrical characteristics of the cell is studied. The aim, in this paper, has been to evaluate influence of increasing the amperage on side wall ledge (frozen electrolyte) by using thermo- electric model of reduction cells of Almahdi Aluminium Company located in Bandar Abbas. By comparing of the Results obtained from the solution of model with those obtained from real operation of reduction cells the possibility to increase to production by applying higher amperage was evaluated. Results from numerical solution including operational temperature, frozen ledge thickness are to a large extent according to expectations and measurements. It was found that increasing the amperage in Almahdi Pots from plant nominal value of 175 to 185 kA would melt down the protective side freeze resulting in pot failure.