Cell Voltage
also known as tankhouse voltage
Cell voltage is the sum of the reversible decomposition potential for the cell reaction, the anode and cathode overpotentials, the ohmic drop through the electrolyte, the resistance of the electrodes and contacts, and the voltage lost in busbars. Only the decomposition potential is thermodynamically required; the rest is waste heat that has to be removed from the cell house.
Why it matters in practice
Energy consumption per tonne of metal is cell voltage multiplied by charge, so every millivolt saved is a direct operating cost saving. Because ohmic drop through the electrolyte usually dominates the avoidable losses, electrode spacing and conductivity matter more than most operators expect.
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Reference entry GL-CELL-VOLTAGE. Definitions on this page describe engineering practice in hydrometallurgical process design; they are not a substitute for test work on your own material.