Study on Inter-electrode Process of Aluminum Electrolysis: An Insight into Inter-electrode Phenomena Under Current Fluctuations

Abstract

Currently, there are two research focuses in aluminum electrolysis industry: process control based on individual anodic current and current modulation. These two novel technologies share the same core mechanisms: precise control of energy balance and heat balance of aluminum electrolysis cells, which is closely linked to the changes in inter-electrode processes when the anodic current changes. In this study, the correlation between inter-electrode characteristics, including characteristics of the aluminum-electrolyte interface and anode-electrolyte interface, and current density as well as anode–cathode distance during aluminum electrolysis were investigated using the scanning reference electrode method and a see-through electrolytic cell. The obtained variation patterns of inter-electrode voltage components may serve as a reference for current balance control and precise thermal balance management in the multi-anode aluminum electrolysis system. The see-through lab-scale electrolytic cell was used to statistically analyze size distribution of gas bubbles released from the bottoms of three types of anodes during aluminum electrolysis process, aiding in understanding the resistance of the gas bubble layer.

Graphical Abstract