Electrolysis is often used for metal extraction. It is currently
the only industrial means of obtaining aluminium. However, the
consumable carbon anodes emit into the atmosphere carbon monoxide
and carbon dioxide which are environmentally not friendly.
Numerical modelling has been carried out of an alternative process
that uses inert anodes and releases only oxygen into the
atmosphere. The computation was done for Northwest Aluminum Technologies Inc.
based in Seattle and Oregon who hold the relevant patents. The sample
drawings presented here do not show the true geometry of the
pilot electrolysis cells.
The numerical model is based on PHYSICA and includes
calculation of electric field, fluid flow, concentrations of
dissolved chemical species, gas bubbles and solid particles.
The solution procedures for the governing equations of the physical
phenomena involved in the process are based on the principles of
conservation of mass, momentum, energy and electric charge.
The computational model
can be used in fine-tuning of the process which may be very sensitive
to the concentration of certain species.
