Mathematical Modeling of Aluminum Reduction Cell MHD Stability

Abstract

The paper describes a mathematical model of magnetic hydrodynamics and heat transfer in an aluminum electrolyzer. The model takes into account three phases: gas, electrolyte and metal, and investigates their interaction. Mathematical modeling of the dynamics of the aluminumelectrolyte interface is carried out depending on the potential distribution over the anode for the Soderberg electrolyzer and the multi-anode electrolyzer. A numerical study made it possible to conclude that the Soderberg electrolyzer is less MHD-stable than a multi-anode electrolyzer with burnt anodes. Calculations of MHD stability are carried out when changing the shape of the working space of the bath for various forms of accretion and skull. The interface between the electrolyte-metal media and the boundary of the reverse oxidation zone, which is determined by the spatial distribution of the gas phase, were calculated. The calculations make it possible to accurately predict the development of MHD instability in the bath under various conditions of the process, which minimizes the loss of metal current efficiency