| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2025 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Aluminum Reduction Technology
|
| Presentation Title |
Numerical Simulation and Analysis of Pot Tightness, Heat Transfer, and Airflow in Aluminum Reduction Cells |
| Author(s) |
Mouhamadou Diop, Zhaowen Wang, Nan Zou, Zhongning Shi |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Mouhamadou Diop |
| Abstract Scope |
This paper presents a numerical simulation and analysis of pot tightness in aluminum electrolysis cells using a validated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model. The model simulates heat transfer and airflow to reduce pot drafts, enhancing heat recovery and energy efficiency. Results show the current pot structure maintains tightness under normal conditions but struggles with a 50% reduction and fails at 75%. Improving pot tightness is essential to minimize fluoride emissions. Various ventilation designs and barriers around anode rod gaps were tested; optimal performance was observed under ideal conditions, while a 4 cm hood gap compromised effectiveness. Covering half the hood gaps maintained tightness. Simulations demonstrate that reduced ventilation rates can contain pot gases, although insufficient airflow impacts gas extraction. The study also examines current flux and temperature changes during anode replacement, emphasizing CFD's role in optimizing pot design for efficiency. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: Light Metals |
| Keywords |
Aluminum, Electrometallurgy, High-Temperature Materials |