Abstract: A mathematical model describing the bubble driven bath flow in a drained cell with a center sump was presented, which spanned the fluid around half an anode and was developed to simulate the flow fields. The calculated results show reasonable agreement with the experiment. Then the model was developed to a full cell model, and bath flow pattern in the whole cell was predicted and analyzed. The flow pattern variation with the changes of the ACD, anode slope, anode immersion depth and current density, especially the fluid secondary recirculation, was modeled. According to the results, side channel or slots feeding technique was recommended in such a drained cell.

Key words:  bath flow pattern; mathematical model; drained cell