Sustainable Mining and Metallurgy

Based on study of the space of intensified current and the effect of current intensification on cell heat balance and stability，the current intensification practiced on the 500kA electrolytic cell line of an electrolytic aluminum enterprise in China was done，and the necessary measures to be taken after current intensification were discussed. During the production, by adjustment of process parameters, and the measures such as using “intelligent shelling+slot control” double control system, optimizing voltage, keeping low molecular ratio, high liquid aluminum level, low liquid aluminum temperature and superheat, the current of 500kA cell was increased to 518kA, and the current density was increased from 0.804A/cm² to 0.833A/cm², with good heat balance and stability, energy consumption was reduced by 152kW·h, which demonstrated the feasibility of intensified current applied on the cell.