Energy savings through the use of an improved aluminum reduction cell cathode. Interim technical report, April 1, 1979-June 30, 1979

Technical Report · Thu Aug 23 00:00:00 EDT 1979

OSTI ID:6091989

The principal project goal is to develop a Hall cell cathode, which will reduce the specific energy consumption of existing commercial cells by 20 to 25%. The basis of the improvement is the utilization of titanium diboride (TiB/sub 2/), a material that is wetted by molten aluminum, as the cell cathode. This provides a stable cathode surface, allowing the cell to be operated at a smaller anode-cathode distance (ACD). Energy savings arise as a result of reduced resistive losses through the cryolite electrolyte. Three integrated phases of the present program are: (1) materials characterization, (2) pilot cell testing, and (3) a full-sized cell demonstration with emphasis on operating the 15 kA pilot cell under reduced ACD conditions. The materials evaluation activities also continued, in which residual stresses, static fatigue, and fracture morphologies were characterized.

• Research Organization: Kaiser Aluminium and Chemical Corp., Pleasanton, CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76CS40215
• OSTI ID: 6091989
• Report Number(s): DOE/CS/40215-T3; ON: DE81029300
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
CATHODES
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ALUMINIUM
ELECTROLYTES
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
MATERIALS TESTING
MICROSTRUCTURE
REDUCTION
STRESSES
TITANIUM BORIDES
BORIDES
BORON COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRODES
ELEMENTS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METALS
TESTING
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
320303* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Equipment & Processes