Increase in Electrolyzer Energy Efficiency with a Self-Baking Anode

Abstract

A brief analysis is provided for the energy consumption to overcome the resistance of a gas layer generated during electrolysis beneath the aluminum electrolytic cell anode, and basic concepts are provided for reducing the volume of a gas layer beneath the anode. A technical solution is proposed providing separation of the self-baking anode into individual units in a common anode housing that improves significantly not only energy, but also ecological parameters of the aluminum electrolyzer. Mathematical modeling is provided for anode gas behavior under a monoblock and a self-baking anode block. On the basis of analyzing the data obtained it is revealed that the use of a block anode reduces the electrolyzer energy required in a cell by 3–5%, improves cell productivity by 10–12%, and reduces by half the number of burners in used in the electrolysis vessel.