Thermo-Electrical Analysis of Lying-Bed Patterns During Preheating Phase

Electrolysis cellsElectrolysis cell can be preheated electrically or by means of gas-fired systems, but the aluminiumAluminium industry prefers electrical preheatingPreheating with lying-bed due to economic aspects. PreheatingPreheating has a significant impact on early cellCell operationOperation and cellCell life since it goes through significant thermal, electrical, and mechanicalMechanical changes during this phase. Hence, successful preheatingPreheating is crucial for the smelter’s productivityProductivity. Thus, it is essential to determine the parameters for a good cellCell preheatingPreheating. In this work, the preheatingPreheating of an electrolysis cellElectrolysis cell for various lying-bed patternsLying-Bed Pattern is simulated using a strongly coupled, thermo-electrical ¼-cellCell model developed with ANSYS™ software. The thermal and electrical properties of the cokeCoke/graphite lying-bed are estimated by calibrating the model with in situ measurements and comparing the results in order to determine the better possible lying-bed patternLying-Bed Pattern in terms of key performance indicators, which define the quality of preheatingPreheating.