US 12,203,187 B2Granted

Apparatus and method for operating an electrolytic cell

AssigneeElysis Limited Partnership

InventorsBruno Petitjean, Alain Noizet, Benoit Bardet

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Abstract

An apparatus, also named transfer box or TB, for conveying an anode assembly outside of an electrolyte cell is described. An apparatus, also named cell preheater lifting beam or CPLB, for conveying an anode assembly or a cell pre-heater outside of an electrolyte cell is also disclosed. TB and CPLB are conjointly used for starting up the electrolytic cell or for replacing a spent anode assembly while maintaining the production of non-ferrous metal, such as aluminum or aluminium. The thermal insulation of the TB allows maintaining the anode temperature homogeneity and preventing thermal shocks when introducing the inert anodes into the hot electrolytic bath. TN and CPLB allow accurate positioning of anode assemblies or cell-preheaters over the electrolysis cell before achieving mechanical and electrical connections of the anode assembly or the cell pre-heater to the electrolysis cell. Several related methods for the operation of an electrolytic cell are also disclosed.

Claims13

Dependent claims

An apparatus for conveying an anode assembly comprising a plurality of inert anodes from an anode preconditioning station located outside of an electrolyte cell where the inert anodes of the anode assembly are preheated to a predetermined temperature, to a molten electrolytic bath of the electrolytic cell, the apparatus comprising:

a supporting structure comprising an interior spacing configured to receive and contain the anode assembly;
an actuator assembly coupled with the supporting structure and configured to support the anode assembly, the actuator assembly being operable to move the anode assembly between:
a thermally insulated position wherein the anode assembly is positioned in the interior spacing of the supporting structure;
and
a loading-unloading position wherein the anode assembly is outside the supporting structure for loading the anode assembly to the actuator assembly or unloading the anode assembly from the actuator assembly;
and
a thermic system supported by the supporting structure for maintaining a temperature of the inert anodes of the anode assembly when the anode assembly is in the interior spacing during conveyance of the anode assembly from the anode preconditioning station to the electrolytic bath.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/680,063Filed 24 Feb 2022 · continuation
Priority: 28 Aug 2019
Published: US 2022/0275528 A11 Sep 2022
Granted: 21 Jan 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

C25C 3/06
Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts: of aluminium
C25C 3/12
Cell construction, e.g. bottoms, walls, cathodes: anodes
C25C 3/10
Cell construction, e.g. bottoms, walls, cathodes: external supporting frames or structures
C25C 3/125
Anodes: based on carbon