Study of the thermally-induced shell deformation of high amperage Hall-Héroult cells
M. Dupuis GéniSim Inc. 3111 Alger St.
Jonquière, Québec, Canada G7S 2M9
D. Richard Hatch 5, Place Ville Marie, Bureau 200 Montréal, Québec, H3B 2G2 drichard@hatch.ca
ABSTRACT
It has been previously demonstrated [1] that there is no obvious thermal balance
related issue limiting the size of a Hall-Héroult cell. Yet, it is well known that a forced- air sidewall cooling system is part of the AP50 cell design [2].
In the present study, the authors analyze the impact of thermal loading on the
mechanical deformation of high amperage cell potshells. The effect of adding cooling fins or a forced-air sidewall cooling system is then assessed.
INTRODUCTION
It seems that the 20
th
century trend towards the regular introduction of new cell
designs of higher and higher amperage has considerably slowed down in recent years.
The AP30 cell design, the last major step in this evolution, is now more than 15
years old. The aluminum industry, in order to maintain the momentum of the last century, should already be using the AP50 or a similar technology for its current greenfield smelter projects.
It is true that new high amperage cell designs in the 250 to 350 kA range are now
emerging in China and Russia for example, challenging the 15 years dominance of the AP30 as the obvious technology for greenfields. However, the 500 kA mark still seems to be out of the question in the near future.
