Numerical simulation of anodic bubble/electrolyte two-phase flow in the melts of aluminum reduction cells with the Euler-Euler two-fluid model was conducted based on computational fluid dynamics(CFD).A modified k-εturbulence model was used to describe liquid phase turbulence in the simulation
by assuming the pseudo turbulence resulted from anodic bubbles.The results of CFD simulation for traditional no-hole anodes were compared with the experimental data under similar conditions using particle image velocimetry(PIV).Good agreement was found between the CFD model and PIV measurements
which indicated that the current CFD model could be used to deal with two types of perforated anodes.The electrolyte velocity under perforated anodes could be reduced and the stability of bath flow could be maintained.Perforated anodes could make bath flow more stable.The maximum and average velocity of electrolyte in four-hole anodes were reduced by 9.53% and 12.89%
respectively.The global average bubble fraction in the melts
the local average bubble fraction in anode-cathode distance(ACD)and the thicknesses of bubble layer under the anode with perforated anodes were less than those with no-hole anodes
but the immersion depth of anodic bubbles in electrolyte was almost the same as that in the case of no-hole anodes.Both ACD and cell voltage could be lowered and energy consumption could be reduced.