Alucell: A Unique Suite of Models to Optimize Pot Design and Performance

In order to optimize pot design and support the continuous improvement of pot performance, Rio Tinto Aluminium makes extensive use of a unique suite of numerical simulation models known as “ALUCELL”. This suite has been developed over thirty years in partnership with the Swiss EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne). The initial purpose was to model the MHD stability of the metal-bath interface by means of a linear stability analysis around a calculated 3D steady-state. Today, ALUCELL makes it possible to model transient MHD instabilities, alumina dissolution and distribution within the pot, and the coupling between thermo-electric balance and MHD flow. This article explains the main features of these various models and presents the results obtained for pots which use the latest AP Technology.