Study on the Inter-electrode Process of Aluminum Electrolysis

Abstract

The voltage distribution between carbon anode and aluminum cathode in cryolite electrolyte saturated with alumina was determined using a scanning reference electrode to investigate the inter-electrode process during aluminum electrolysis. The results showed that the anode–cathode-distance (ACD) is consisted of three parts: a relatively stable cathode boundary layer, bubble-free electrolyte layer, and gas–liquid layer near the anode. The aluminum diffusion layer with high electronic conductivity as well as the crystallization of cryolite was observed at the cathode boundary layer. The thickness of the aluminum diffusion layer varied with current density, which further determined the critical ACD. The thickness, coverage, and releasing frequency of the bubbles on both laboratory and industrial prebaked cells were derived, and it is found that the average bubble coverage decreases with current density, and the average coverage at 0.8 A cm−2 is approximately 50 pct.