Numerical simulation of the influence of 10 kA rare earth electrolyzer electrification mode on molten salt electrolysis

The 10 kA rare earth electrolyzer is the most widely used type in the enterprise at present. Based on a 10 kA rare earth electrolyzer in a certain research institute, the electrolyzer was studied through the electrothermal coupling simulation module of the commercial software COMSOL. It was found that the original structure had the problem of uneven current distribution in the electrolysis process. In order to solve the problem of low electrolysis efficiency caused by uneven current distribution under the original conductive plate structure, a new conductive plate structure scheme was proposed. Meanwhile, since the 10 kA groove is not centrosymmetrically distributed, and the final current flowing into the electrolyte should be controlled at about 10 kA, according to the size of the incoming current, the following four structures were determined, namely, original structure type, current splitting type, current 2332 distribution type and current 1441 distribution type. According to the simulation results, the current density in the tank is the highest and the potential difference between the tank cover plate and the electrolyte is the smallest when the current 2332 is distributed. The current density of the original structure is the lowest, and the potential difference between the cover plate and the electrolyte is the highest.