Based on the basic theory of magnetohydrodynamics,the current field in an aluminum reduction cell is calculated using an equivalent resistance method(ERM) and a finite element method(FEM).The magnetic field in alumium reduction cells is calculated using a scalar voltage potential method and a two scalar magnetic potential method.The flow field in aluminum reduction cells is calculated using a two equation k-ε model.A comparison of measured and calculated results in a 200 kA aluminum reduction cell shows good agreement.It is found that the horizontal magnetic field forms a clockwise whirlpool and the vertical magnetic field presents an antisymmetry distribution.The flow field in aluminum reduction cells presents four whirlpools along the X axis.The errors of the magnetic field and the flow field are less than 10.0% and 5.0%,respectively.

Finite element equations to calculate current and temperature fields of aluminum reduction cells are deduced using Galerkin method.The finite element model of anode and molten electrolyte is built according to multiple elements and multiple properties of ANSYS software.With reasonable assumption of boundary conditions,the current and temperature fields of 160?KA prebaked reduction cells are computed and the temperature,voltage and electric current distributions of the cells are analyzed.The simulation results of the model well coincide with the design data,and therefore provide foundations for optimizing current aluminum electrolysis cells and developing new type cells.