物理模型实验对铝电解阳极气泡行为研究进展

Progress in the Study of Physical Model Experiment on Anode Bubble Behavior in Aluminum Electrolysis

阳极气泡的行为是影响铝电解过程中电解质运动的主要因素,可引起熔融电解质做循环运动,加速氧化铝的溶解和扩散,减小电解质区域中氧化铝的浓度梯度,增加电流效率,而且流体的流动有助于阳极气体的释放。然而,阳极气泡的存在恶化了极间的导电性,使槽电压升高,对电解质产生的强烈扰动,将导致金属铝发生二次反应而造成损失,降低铝电解电流效率。从物理模型中的冷态模拟实验、热力模拟实验和实验室电解实验研究3个方面综述了铝电解中阳极气泡行为的研究进展,并指出了各种模型的优缺点。

The behavior of the anode bubble is the main factor affecting the electrolyte movement in the aluminum electrolysis. It can lead to the circulating movement occurred in molten electrolyte, accelerate the dissolution and diffusion of alumina, reduce the concentration gradient of alumina in the electrolyte area, increase the current efficiency, and the flow of the fluid is beneficial to the release of the anode gas. However, the existence of the anode bubble worsens the electrical conductivity between the electrodes and increases the cell voltage. The strong disturbance to the electrolyte will lead to the loss of the metal aluminum through the secondary reaction, and reduce the current efficiency in the aluminum electrolysis. This paper puts forward the progress in the study of the behavior of anode bubble in aluminum electrolysis from the cold-state simulation experiment, thermal simulation experiment and laboratory electrolysis experiment in physical model, and points out the advantages and disadvantages of various models.