Industrial Aluminium Production: the Hall-Heroult Process Modelling

Abstract

Aluminium is produced according with the Hall-Heroult process. During this complex electrolyte two-phase electrolysis, it is difficult to model the current distribution and to optimize the process. The flow is the result of the magneto-hydrodynamic phenomena induced by the strong imposed currents and of the bubbles evolving. The reactivity and species concentration distribution are difficult to model. Bubbles are motion sources for the electrolysis cell flow, hydrodynamic properties are strongly coupled with species transport and electrical performances. Bubbles presence modifies these global and local properties. The goal of this proposition is to present the electrochemical engineering modelling of the Hall-Heroult two-phase electrolysis properties in the inter electrode interval. The numerical simulations are performed from both the chemistry and two-phase hydrodynamic point of views.