NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF ELECTRICAL JOINTS IN THE BY-PASS SYSTEM OF 230 KA ALUMINUM REDUCTION CELLS

摘要

Modeling and simulation were performed on an electrical joint, part of the by-pass system of 230 kA cells at CVG VENALUM. The aim of the study was to obtain the contact pressure in the joint for different amperage values, taking into account thermal expansion and the influence of parameters as surface roughness and hardness. For this purpose, an FEM code was used including interface contact elements for the thermo electrical and thermo mechanical non-linear analyses. As part of this study both electrical and thermal contact resistance values were found using experimentally developed correlations. Both resistances are functions of contact pressure, which depends on the joint's temperature. A preliminary model was developed to determine contact resistances at a constant pressure value. A thermo electrical model was then run and used as input to a thermo mechanical ran to determine contact pressure variations with temperature, allowing for the contact resistances to be readjusted.