Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

CFD simulation of effect of anode configuration on gas-liquid flow and alumina transport process in an aluminum reduction cell

  • Published:
Journal of Central South University Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Numerical simulations of gas-liquid two-phase flow and alumina transport process in an aluminum reduction cell were conducted to investigate the effects of anode configurations on the bath flow, gas volume fraction and alumina content distributions. An Euler-Euler two-fluid model was employed coupled with a species transport equation for alumina content. Three different anode configurations such as anode without a slot, anode with a longitudinal slot and anode with a transversal slot were studied in the simulation. The simulation results clearly show that the slots can reduce the bath velocity and promote the releasing of the anode gas, but can not contribute to the uniformity of the alumina content. Comparisons of the effects between the longitudinal and transversal slots indicate that the longitudinal slot is better in terms of gas-liquid flow but is disadvantageous for alumina mixing and transport process due to a decrease of anode gas under the anode bottom surface. It is demonstrated from the simulations that the mixing and transfer characteristics of alumina are controlled to great extent by the anode gas forces while the electromagnetic forces (EMFs) play the second role.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. LIU Ye-xiang, LI Jie. Modern aluminum electrolysis [M]. Beijing: Metallurgical Industry Press, 2008: 69–77. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  2. ZHOU Nai-jun, XUE Yu-qing, CHEN J J, TAYLOR M P. Numerical simulation of electrolyte two-phase flow induced by anode bubbles in an aluminum reduction cell [J]. Chemical Product and Process Modeling, 2007, 11(2):1934–1945.

    Google Scholar 

  3. ZHOU Nai-jun, XIA Xiao-xia, WANG Fu-qiang. Numerical simulation on electrolyte flow field in 156 kA drained aluminum reduction cells [J]. Journal of Central South University, 2007, 14(1):42–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. ZHANG Hong-liang, WANG Zhi-gang, LI Jie, LAI Yan-qing. Simulation on flow field of anode gas and electrolyte in aluminum electrolysis with cermet inert anodes [J]. Journal of Central South University: Science and Technology, 2010, 41(4): 1256–1262. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  5. ZHAN Shui-qing, ZHOU Jie-min, LI Mao, DONG Ying, ZHOU Yi-wen, YANG Jian-hong. Numerical simulation of gas-liquid two-phase flow in aluminum reduction cells with perforated anodes [J]. CIESC Journal, 2013, 64(10): 3612–3619. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  6. ZHAN Shui-qing, LI Mao, ZHOU Jie-min, YANG Jian-hong, ZHOU Yi-wen. A CFD-PBM coupled model predicting anodic bubble size distribution in aluminum reduction cells [C]// GOHN G. Light Metals 2014. San Diego: TMS, 2014: 777–782.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  7. DOHEIM M A, ELKERSH A M, ALI M M. Computational modeling of flow in aluminum reduction cells due to gas bubbles and electromagnetic forces [J]. Metallurgical Materials Transactions B, 2007, 38(1):113–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. ZHANG Kai-yu, FENG Yu-qing, SCHWARZ P, WANG Zhao-wen, COOKSEY M A. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling of bubble dynamics in the aluminum smelting process [J]. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 2013, 52(4):11378–11390.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. FENG Y Q, COOKSEY M A, SCHWARZ M P. CFD modeling of alumina mixing in aluminium reduction cells [C]// HAGNI A M. Light Metals 2010. Seattle, WA: TMS, 2010:451–456.

    Google Scholar 

  10. FENG Y Q, COOKSEY M A, SCHWARZ M P. CFD modeling of alumina mixing in aluminium reduction cells [C]// LINDSAY J. Light Metals 2011. San Diego, CA: TMS, 2011:543–548.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  11. THOMAS H. Numerical simulation and optimization of the alumina distribution in an aluminium electrolysis pot [D]. Lausanne: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  12. ZHANG He-hui. Numerical study of vortex flow of melts and transport process of alumina in aluminum reduction cells [D]. Changsha: Central South University, 2012. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  13. KAENEL R, ANTILLE J, ROMERIO M V, BESSON O. Impact of magnetohydrodynamic and bubbles driving forces on the alumina concentration in the bath of an Hall-Héroult cell [C]// BARRY S. Light Metals 2013. San Antonio: TMS, 2013:585–590.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  14. ZHAN Shui-qing, LI Mao, ZHOU Jie-min, ZHOU Yi-wen, YANG Jian-hong. Numerical simulation of alumina concentration distribution in the melts of aluminum reduction cells [J]. The Chinese Journal of Nonferrous Metals, 2014, 24(10): 2658–2667. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  15. ZHAN Shui-qing, LI Mao, ZHOU Jie-min, YANG Jian-hong, ZHOU Yi-wen. CFD simulation of dissolution process of alumina in an aluminum reduction cell with two-particle phase population balance model [J]. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2014, 73(1):803–816.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  16. DIAS H P, MOURA R R. The use of transversal slot anodes at ALBRAS melter [C]// KVANDE H. Light Metals 2005. San Francisco, CA: TMS, 2005:341–344.

    Google Scholar 

  17. SEVERO D S, GUSBERTI V, PINTO E C V, MOURO R R. Modeling the bubble driven flow in the electrolyte as a tool for slotted anode design improvement [C]// SORLIE M. Light Metals 2007. Orlando, FL: TMS, 2007: 287–292.

    Google Scholar 

  18. YANG W, COOKSEY M A. Effect of slot height and width on liquid flow in physical models of aluminum reduction cells [C]// SORLIE M. Light Metals 2007. Orlando, FL: TMS, 2007:451–456.

    Google Scholar 

  19. YANG Shuai, ZHANG Hong-liang, XU Yu-jie, ZHANG He-hui, ZOU Zhong, LI Jie, LAI Yan-qing. Effects of slot cutting at prebaked anodes on bubble elimination in aluminum reduction cell [J]. Journal of Central South University: Science and Technology, 2012, 43(12): 4617–4625. (in Chinese)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  20. SATO Y, SADATOMI M, SEKOGUCI K. Momentum and heat transfer in two-phase bubble flow-I: Theory [J]. Int J Multiphase Flow, 1975, 7(2):167–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. FLUENT Inc. Fluent 6.3 User’s Guide [EB/OL]. [2014-05-15]. http://aerojet.engr.ucdavis.edu/fluenthelp/html/ug/mainpre.htm.

  22. COOKSEY M A, YANG W. PIV measurements on physical models of aluminum reduction cells [C]// GPALLOWAY T J. Light Metals 2006. Warrendale: TMS, 2006: 359–365.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Energy Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Shui-qing Zhan  (詹水清), Mao Li  (李茂) & Jie-min Zhou  (周孑民)

  2. Zhengzhou Research Institute, Aluminum Corporation of China Ltd., Zhengzhou, 450041, China

    Jian-hong Yang  (杨建红) & Yi-wen Zhou  (周益文)

Authors
  1. Shui-qing Zhan  (詹水清)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mao Li  (李茂)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jie-min Zhou  (周孑民)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jian-hong Yang  (杨建红)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yi-wen Zhou  (周益文)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mao Li  (李茂).

Additional information

Foundation item: Project(2010AA065201) supported by the High Technology Research and Development Program of China; Project(2013zzts038) supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China; Project(ZB2011CBBCe1) supported by the Major Program for Aluminum Corporation of China Limited, China

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhan, Sq., Li, M., Zhou, Jm. et al. CFD simulation of effect of anode configuration on gas-liquid flow and alumina transport process in an aluminum reduction cell. J. Cent. South Univ. 22, 2482–2492 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-015-2776-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-015-2776-3

Key words

Search

Navigation