Analysis of the magnetohydrodynamic parameters of S-8BM (S-8B) electrolyzers in the modernization of aluminum smelters

Abstract

The article aims to determine the magnetohydrodynamic parameters of an aluminum electrolyzer in order to compare different types of bus arrangements used in baths with a Soderberg anode. The electrical parameters of the electrolyzer (current distribution across blooms and anode studs) and magnetic field parameters were computed using the Blums V5.07 program (Polyfem, Russia). Data on circulation rates and skew of the metal in the electrolyzer were obtained using the MHD-Valdis program (developed by V. Boyarevich, University of Greenwich, UK). In the course of the studies, mathematical models of the C-8BM (C-8B) electrolyzer with various bus arrangements were built. Three bus arrangements were selected for testing the installation of a bridge designed to close the current distribution in the anode bus arrangement of the electrolyzer. These types of bus arrangements were realized in two variants: with and without a bridge. The obtained circulation rates and skew of the metal were used to evaluate the possibility of modernizing baths with a Soderberg anode without significant capital costs. When using the first type of bus arrangement, the best current distribution was achieved for the blooms with limits of ~757 A (for the variant without a bridge) and ~656 A (for the modernized variant with closed series), as well as for the anode studs having limits of ~1754 A and ~1609 A, respectively. With the use of the third bus arrangement variant, the current distribution was shown to slightly decrease following the installation of a bridge between the anode bus bars. The obtained results suggest that in the modernization of a C-8BM (C-8B) electrolyzer with different types of bus arrangements, current distribution across blooms and anode studs, magnetic field characteristics (By and Bz components), as well as circulation rates and skew of the metal, have no significant impact on the efficiency of this electrolyzer, which contributes to a faster transition to EcoSoderberg bath electrolysis without significant economic costs.