Entropic heat effects in aluminum electrolysis cells with inert anodes

While the overall energy requirement for the aluminum electrolysis is well known and can be calculated from readily available thermodynamic data, the distribution of the different types of energy to the anode, the cathode, and the electrolyte is not straightforward. The present attempt is based on the application of activity data including partial entropies on the electrode reactions in a cell operating with inert anodes. The calculations indicate that the cell reaction implies a relatively strong cooling of the anode, a moderate heating of the cathode, and a moderate cooling of the electrolyte. The mass- and heat transfer coefficients at the anode in a cell with inert anodes were estimated. The electrolyte at the anode will be higher in aluminum fluoride, lower in alumina, and colder than the bulk of the electrolyte. The cooling and heating effects are only marginally different from the situation prevailing in traditional aluminum electrolysis cells with carbon anodes.