Numerical Simulation Research For Electric Field And Flow Field Of 10KA Rare Earth Electrolysis Cell

A kind of bottom-cathode-structure electrolytic cell is designed to overcome the disadvant- ages of the electrolysis cell with parallel insertion of cathode and anode structure and its electric field and flow field are researched by using numerical simulation in the paper based on summarizing the results of previous studies to enhance production efficiency and electric efficiency and meet the large-scale industrial production.Firstly, two bottom-cathode-structure electrolytic cells with receiver and no receiver are researched by using ANSYS software and electric potential and electric field intensity are obtained when polar distances are 0.1m, 0.12m and 0.14m. The research results show that distributions of electric field are homogeneous to result in a good mixture of components between the electrodes and the thermal conductivity and guarantee the required temperature in electrolysis. And theoretical cell voltage with no receiver is maximum 5.41V and that with receiver is also maximum 5.52V when polar distance is 0.14m. Compared with cell voltage 10V of 10KA parallel insertion of cathode and anode structure rare earth electrolytic cell, a bottom-cathode-structure electrolytic cell has a large energy saving space.Secondly, flow field distributions of the two cells are simulated by using commercial CFD software FLUENT and the changes of polar distance to affect flow filed are analysed. The research results show that on the one hand the movement of the gas produced by anode has a little effect on the electrolyte between the anode and cathode, which is conducive to the collection of the metal on the cathode surface and the reduction of metal reoxidation, on the other hand the electrolyte circulation between anode sidewall and cell wall can accelerate the dissolution of neodymium oxide and the dissolved neodymium oxide will be brought to the space between anode and cathode for reaction to the smooth production process.The bottom-cathode-structure electrolysis cell with container which polar distance is 0.12m is ideal in improving the electrolytic efficiency and the reasonable use of cell.