Abstract
Finite difference technique was used to construct a mathematical model that has been used to study the thermal aspects of high-amperage end-to-end prebaked aluminum reduction cells. The influence of the ambient temperature (Ta) and the convective heat transfer coefficient at the shell/air interface (h) on the ledge profile was studied. The bath temperature and temperature distribution within the solid phases of the cell were determined using this model. The total energy balance of the cell was analyzed. It was found that as h increases the ledge gets thicker; the change in Ta mainly affects the bath temperature. No significant effect of h on the bath temperature was observed. These results of the model compare favorably with field measurements on six full-scale prototype prebaked cells. (Author)