3D FEM Calculation for Electric Field of Aluminum Electrolysis Cell Based on Ansys

The mathematical models of electric field of the 300 kA aluminum electrolysis cells were calculated with ANSYS. The result revealed that the potential of the each part of the aluminum electrolysis cell was higher at the center and lower at the edge, decreasing from top to bottom. Molten aluminum was similar to equipotential areas, and the voltage drop of the electrolyte is largest. The current of the each parts of the aluminum electrolysis cell flowed from the middle to the both sides, from the top to the bottom. The X horizontal currents of the melt were anti-symmetric along the long axis (X axis), the Y horizontal currents of the melt were anti-symmetric along the short axis t (Y axis). The voltage drop of the cell was measured and compared with the calculated results. The current efficiencies for the anode change patterns achieved in real cells were in excellent agreement with the model instability predictions. So the software ANSYS can well reflects actual status of the electric fields of the cells and can be used to design them.