Development of Heat Transfer and Electric Current Models of Anode on the Base of NiO-Li2O Ceramics

Abstract

In this paper, the finite element method in COMSOL Multiphysics is employed to numerically simulate the electric field in a construction consisting of a ceramic NiO-Li2O (3 wt. %) anode attached to two steel current leads, as well as the thermal fields within a quartz cell containing this construction. The distributions of the electric current density and temperature gradient generated in the ceramic anode when the applied current is 10 to 50 A (in 10 A increments) are calculated. The model is validated using experimental data. The main causes of anode cracking at the point where it is attached to the current lead are identified. Using the proposed model, the electric field distribution in a similar anode with a new current lead design is predicted. It is demonstrated that the new current lead design allows minimizing the disparity in current density values between the area under the current lead and the free part of the anode.