Advanced technology applications on aluminium electrolysis

The only method now used industrially to produce primary aluminum is the combination of the Bayer Process with the Hall-Héroult process. It is being observed that Aluminium, which has been applied to be patented by Charles Martin Hall and Paul Louis Toussaint Héroult in 1886, has always been important in our daily lives; and, this demand is expected to increase the importance in production ever since 121 years. Primary aluminium is produced by the electrolytic reduction of alumina dissolved in an electrolyte mainly containing cryolite by Hall-Héroult process. In the electrolysis cell, one or several carbon anodes are dipped into the cathode containing the bath. In case a high current is activated, the heat increases up to 900°C - 950°C and the alumina gets dissolved in the cryolite. Within the dissolved alumina, oxygen gets free and when oxygen reacts with the carbon anode, the carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide gas is being discarded out. With the quittance of oxygen, the metallic aluminium will gather under the cryolite. The produced aluminium, with the help of vacuum crucibles, will then be pulled out and sent to foundries for further action. In this study; different subsonic and sonic vibrations which have obtained from 0.30 kW, 1400 rpm three phase motor, 0,55 kW, 2800 rpm three phase motor and 0,75kW frequency converter, have applied to laboratory type aluminium electrolysis cell and the possibility of eliminating the anode effect has been observed. Keywords: Aluminium electrolysis, Hall-Héroult process, Electrolyte, Anode effect, Sonic vibration, Subsonic vibration