THE IMPACT OF THE INCLINATION OF THE ANODE BOTTOM ON ANODE GAS COVERING IN THE HALL-HEROULT CELL

The aluminium industry is increasingly focused on reducing the energy consumption associated with the Hall-Heroult process by minimizing the anode bottom gas covering. This study investigates how the inclination of the anode bottom influences the coverage of gas produced by electrically isolating carbon-dioxide bubbles at the anode, which increases the cell's ohmic resistance. Various factors, including the curvature and inclination of the anode bottom, affect the evacuation rate of these bubbles and subsequently reduce gas covering. This research employs real-scale air-water systems to examine the relationship between anode geometry and the dynamics of bubble-induced flow. The study introduces a simulation tool developed using a Lagrangian description of the bubble layer, facilitating an analysis of anode inclination effects on gas covering and bath velocity. The findings from the air-water system are compared with experimental data, highlighting the necessity of understanding how altered anode positions can optimize flow dynamics in the Hall-Heroult cell, ultimately contributing to better energy efficiency in aluminium production processes.