Sodium Diffusion in Cathode Lining in Aluminium Electrolysis Cells

摘要

A qualitative understanding of the diffusion of sodium into therncathode lining in aluminium electrolysis cells, including therncarbon cathode, the ceramic sidelining and refractory lining isrnimportant for the improvement of cathode cell design andrnperformance. In this paper, a mathematical model is used torndescribe sodium diffusion and the reaction between sodium andrnlining materials through the entire cathode lining. In addition tornthe degradation mechanisms in different lining materials, a massrnbalance of sodium consumption in a typical cell is considered andrnused for the verification of the model. The simulation givesrnadditional insight into the transport of sodium in the carbonrncathode and demonstrates that sodium transport in the cathoderngoes through solid state diffusion. The model is also used tornsimulate the consequences of the change the properties of therncarbon material in the cathode.