Long-term testing and evaluation of cathode components in a commercial aluminum cell

Technical Report · Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6951935· OSTI ID:6951935

Church, K D; Morris, E G; Joo', L A ^[1]; Stewart, D V; Morgan, W R; Tabereaux, A ^[2]

---

1. Great Lakes Research, Elizabethton, TN (USA)
2. Reynolds Metals Co., Sheffield, AL (USA)

The purpose of modeling thermal stresses in TiB{sub 2}-G cathode elements was to aide in the design of the final TiB{sub 2}-G cathode element shape to be used in an industrial reduction cell based on knowledge of thermal stress values and an estimate of the probability of element failure. Five finite element models of four TiB{sub 2}-G cathode element shapes were constructed (Figures 1-5) to model thermal stresses resulting from step changes in temperature of 25{degree}C--960{degree}C and 300{degree}C--960{degree}C. The models were developed to represent worst case'' conditions, that is, conditions representing the greatest anticipated values of thermal stress likely to be encountered. ANSYS was used to perform the thermal stress modeling. ANSYS is a general purpose finite element code available from Swanson Analysis Systems, Incorporated. Modeling thermal stress in ANSYS for a step change in temperature requires an initial transient thermal analysis followed by a structural analysis. After the geometry of each model was defined, material properties were specified, and heat transfer boundary conditions developed. The finite element models were constructed using convective heat transfer boundary conditions as a means of specifying heat flow into the models. Convection faces and convective heat transfer coefficients were defined at the TiB{sub 2}-G -- molten metal interfaces. A uniform starting temperature of either 25{degree}C or 300{degree}C was assigned and the models were solved for transient temperature distribution and thermally induced stress. LCHEM codes were utilized to model voltage distribution and current density in reduction cells utilizing TiB{sub 2}-G cathode elements. 4 refs., 119 figs., 9 tabs.

• Research Organization: Great Lakes Research, Elizabethton, TN (USA); Reynolds Metals Co., Sheffield, AL (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/CE
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-87ID12689
• OSTI ID: 6951935
• Report Number(s): DOE/ID/12689-1-Vol.2-Add.; ON: DE90010897
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
CATHODES
THERMAL STRESSES
CURRENT DENSITY
L CODES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
A CODES
ALUMINIUM
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
HEAT TRANSFER
PERFORMANCE TESTING
REDUCTION
STRESS ANALYSIS
TITANIUM BORIDES
BORIDES
BORON COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMPUTER CODES
ELECTRODES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY TRANSFER
METALS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
STRESSES
TESTING
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
320303* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Equipment & Processes
400400 - Electrochemistry
360104 - Metals & Alloys- Physical Properties
990200 - Mathematics & Computers