Abstract
Transient waves on the metal surface in electrolytic cells are studied by simulation on a computer model. The model used is a semidynamic modification of a model for stationary flow and surface calculation.
The simulation results clearly show that any wave once started by some disturbance, will turn into a transient wave rotating along the edge of the cell cavity, resulting in a tilting movement of the whole metal surface. The mechanism of the rotating wave is explained.
It is further demonstrated that there exists a stability limit above which the rotating waves are amplified instead of being damped, leading to an unstable situation known as “shaky pot”. A simple empirical stability formula is presented, showing the interrelation of the decisive cell parameters. General estimation curves for typical cells are also given.
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References
T.B. Müller and K. O. Solberg:Light Metals, 1973, vol. l,pp. 151–58.
T. Sele:Met. Trans., 1974, vol. 5, pp. 2145–50.
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K. Mori, K. Shiota, N. Urata, and H. Ikeuchi:Light Metals, 1976, vol. 1, pp. 77–95.
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Sele, T. Instabilities of the metal surface in electrolytic alumina reduction cells. Metall Trans B 8, 613–618 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02669338
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02669338