Study on Side Ledge Behavior Under Current Fluctuations Based on Coupled Thermo-electric Model

To achieve the application of aluminum electrolysis cells to accommodate unstable wind power, a transiently coupled thermo-electric model of a 420 kA grade aluminum reduction cell is established to calculate and analyze the changes of side ledge and side shell heat loss under current fluctuations. The calculation results show that when the current is increased by 2%, the side ledge and the heat loss rate does not vary markedly; when the current increases by 5, 8 and 10%, the side ledge melts at certain point within 8 h, and the heat loss rate of side shell near the melt domain changes most rapidly. The ledge thickness under normal current and current fluctuations are calculated. Comparing the results respectively with the test data obtained from industry cells and results calculated by this model and the traditional loop iteration, this model has accuracy and reliability. Based on it, process adjustment measures are proposed and verified by simulation calculations.