Insulation assembly for electrolysis cell
AssigneeElysis Limited Partnership
InventorsLeroy E. D'Astolfo, Steven A. Czekaj, Yimin Ruan
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Abstract
An insulation assembly is provided, including: a body of an insulating material with a lower surface configured to contact a sidewall an electrolysis cell; an upper surface generally opposed to the lower surface; and a perimetrical sidewall extending between the upper surface and the lower surface to surround the remainder of the body, the perimetrical sidewall including: an inner portion configured to face an anode surface of the electrolysis cell and provide a gap between the body and the anode surface of the electrolysis cell; wherein the body is configured to extend from the sidewall towards the anode surface.
Claims32
An insulation assembly, comprising:
- a body of an insulating material extending from a sidewall towards an anode surface of a cell assembly, the body having:
- a lower surface defining a contact portion and an overhang portion, wherein the contact portion is configured to contact the sidewall of the electrolysis cell, and the overhang portion is configured to extend in an outward direction from the sidewall above a bath of the electrolysis cell;
- an upper surface generally opposed to the lower surface;
- and
- a perimetrical sidewall extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, wherein the perimetrical sidewall includes an inner portion, wherein the inner portion faces the anode surface of the electrolysis cell, wherein the inner surface is constructed of a non-metallic material;
- wherein the body has a center of gravity located above the contact portion of the lower surface, such that the insulation assembly is retained in place on the sidewall via gravity with the overhang portion overhanging the bath of the cell and a gap is formed between the inner portion and the anode surface of the electrolysis cell, wherein the gap is from 2 mm to 10 mm.
An insulation assembly, comprising:
- a monolithic body of an insulating material, wherein the monolithic body comprises:
- a lower surface, wherein the lower surface comprises a non-conducting material, and wherein the lower surface has a contact portion configured to contact an upper portion of a sidewall of an electrolysis cell;
- an upper surface generally opposed from the lower surface, wherein the upper surface comprises a lift device, wherein the lift device comprises an attachment site configured to allow attachment to the monolithic body and support the weight of the monolithic body when lifted from contact with a deck plate of the electrolysis cell;
- and
- a perimetrical sidewall extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, wherein the perimetrical sidewall comprises an inner portion facing the open upper region of the electrolysis cell, wherein the inner surface comprises an insulating material;
- wherein the body has a center of gravity located above the contact portion of the lower surface such that the insulation assembly is retained in place on the sidewall via gravity, and wherein the monolithic body forms a gap with an anode assembly of the electrolysis cell, wherein the gap is from 2 mm to 10 mm.
An apparatus, comprising:
- an electrolysis cell comprising:
- (a) a cell bottom;
- (b) at least one anode;
- (c) at least one cathode;
- and
- (d) at least one sidewall perimetrically surrounding the cell bottom, wherein the sidewall comprises:
- (i) an inner face configured to retain a molten electrolyte;
- (ii) a top edge;
- and
- (iii) an upper portion;
- (e) at least one insulation assembly configured to fit on the top edge of the sidewall, the at least one insulation assembly having a center of gravity located above the top edge of the sidewall such that the insulation assembly is retained in place on the sidewall via gravity, wherein the at least one insulation assembly forms a gap of from 2 mm to 10 mm with the at least one anode, wherein the insulation assembly comprises:
- (i) a body, wherein the body comprises a non-metallic material, and wherein the body comprises a lower surface contacting the top edge of the sidewall and an upper surface comprises a lift device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.