Abstract Numerical simulations are widely used to predict cathode voltage drop in Hall-Heroult cells and to determine the qualifications needed for voltage savings. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of change in the properties of cathode assembly materials with temperature, the effect of the copper insert in collector bar and effect of change in cathode design on the cathodic voltage drop, horizontal current density and potlife. Thermal and electrical measurements were performed on twenty cells to validate the model results. The results proved that resistivity of both collector bar and cathode block is considered the main property that controls the cathodic voltage drop in the cells. While the copper insert has a much higher potential for providing a lower cathode voltage, great effect on the horizontal current density in the cell and increases the expected potlife. However, the choice of cathode assembly materials must be compatible between cathodic voltage drop and horizontal current density. Therefore, these items have been examined for different cases to reach optimal conditions. The results show that select anthracitic with 30% graphite cathode blocks and adjust the resistivity of steel collector bars and cast iron, as well as insert copper in the steel collector bar, are effective in bringing down the cathodic voltage drop, lower the electro-erosion of the cathode block and the expected potlife will be increased.

中文翻译：

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Hall-Héroult电池阴极电压降的数值模拟

摘要 数值模拟被广泛用于预测霍尔-赫鲁特电池中的阴极电压降，并确定电压节省所需的条件。本研究的目的是研究阴极组件材料特性随温度变化的影响、集电棒中铜插件的影响以及阴极设计变化对阴极电压降、水平电流密度和适用期的影响。对 20 个电池进行了热和电测量以验证模型结果。结果证明，集电棒和阴极块的电阻率被认为是控制电池阴极电压降的主要特性。虽然铜插件具有提供较低阴极电压的更高潜力，对电池中的水平电流密度有很大影响，并增加了预期的适用期。然而，阴极组件材料的选择必须在阴极电压降和水平电流密度之间兼容。因此，已针对不同情况检查了这些项目以达到最佳条件。结果表明，选择含30%石墨阴极块的无烟煤，调整钢集电棒和铸铁的电阻率，以及在钢集电棒中嵌入铜，均能有效降低阴极压降，降低电蚀。阴极块和预期的适用期将增加。这些项目已针对不同情况进行了检查，以达到最佳条件。结果表明，选择含30%石墨阴极块的无烟煤，调整钢集电棒和铸铁的电阻率，以及在钢集电棒中嵌入铜，均能有效降低阴极压降，降低电蚀。阴极块和预期的适用期将增加。这些项目已针对不同情况进行了检查，以达到最佳条件。结果表明，选择含30%石墨阴极块的无烟煤，调整钢集电棒和铸铁的电阻率，以及在钢集电棒中嵌入铜，均能有效降低阴极压降，降低电蚀。阴极块和预期的适用期将增加。