Abstract
In order to explore the impact of anode replacement on heat transfer and magneto-hydrodynamic flow in aluminum smelting cells, a transient three-dimensional coupled mathematical model has been developed. With a steady state magnetic field, an electrical potential approach was used to obtain electromagnetic fields. Joule heating and Lorentz force, which were the source terms in the energy and momentum equations, were updated at each iteration. The phase change of molten electrolyte (bath) was modeled by an enthalpy-based technique in which the mushy zone was treated as a porous medium with porosity equal to the liquid fraction. A reasonable agreement between the test data and simulated results was achieved. Under normal conditions, the bath at the middle of the cell is hotter, while becoming colder at the four corners. Due to the heat extracted from the bath, the temperature of the new cold anode increases over time. The temperature of the bath under the new cold anode therefore quickly drops, resulting in a decrease of the electrical conductivity. More Joule effect is created. In addition, the bath under the new cold anode gradually freezes and flows more slowly. The temperature of the new anode located at the middle of the cell rises faster because of the warmer bath. It is easier to eliminate the effect of anode change when it occurs in the middle of the cell.
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Abbreviations
- \( \vec{A} \) :
-
Magnetic potential vector
- \( A_{\text{mush}} \) :
-
Mushy zone constant
- \( \vec{B} \) :
-
Magnetic flux density (T)
- \( c_{\text{p}} \) :
-
Heatcapacity [J/(kg K)]
- \( \vec{F}_{\text{e}} \) :
-
Lorentz force (N/m3)
- \( \vec{F}_{\text{b}} \) :
-
Buoyancy force (N/m3)
- \( \vec{F}_{\text{p}} \) :
-
Pressure drop (m/s)
- \( f_{\text{l}} \) :
-
Liquid fraction
- \( H \) :
-
Enthalpy (J/kg)
- \( h \) :
-
Sensible enthalpy (J/kg)
- \( h_{\text{ref}} \) :
-
Reference enthalpy (J/kg)
- \( \vec{J} \) :
-
Current density (A/m2)
- \( k_{\text{eff}} \) :
-
Effective thermal conductivity [W/(m K)]
- \( L \) :
-
Latent heat (J/kg)
- \( p \) :
-
Pressure (Pa)
- \( Q_{\text{J}} \) :
-
Joule heating (W/m3)
- \( T \) :
-
Temperature (K)
- \( T_{\text{ref}} \) :
-
Reference temperature (K)
- \( T_{\text{l}} \) :
-
Liquidus temperature (K)
- \( T_{\text{s}} \) :
-
Solidus temperature (K)
- \( t \) :
-
Time (s)
- \( \vec{v} \) :
-
Velocity (m/s)
- \( \mu_{0} \) :
-
Vacuum permittivity of metal (F/m)
- \( \rho \) :
-
Density (kg/m3)
- \( \sigma \) :
-
Electrical conductivity [1/(Ω m)]
- \( \varphi \) :
-
Electric potential (V)
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Acknowledgement
The authors’ gratitude goes to the National Natural Science Foundation of People’s Republic of China (51434005).
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Wang, Q., Li, B. & Fafard, M. Effect of Anode Change on Heat Transfer and Magneto-hydrodynamic Flow in Aluminum Reduction Cell. JOM 68, 610–622 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-015-1714-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-015-1714-z