Method and apparatus for analysis of chemical constituents in an electrolysis cell
AssigneeNorsk Hydro ASA
InventorsBernard Gilbert, Trygve Foosnæs, Reidar Huglen
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Abstract
Method for determining chemical constituents in an electrolysis cell for the production of metal, in particular aluminum, involving the use of light spectroscopy such as Raman spectroscopy that analyses the light emitted from the cell constituents and represents the light as a spectrum, wherein the analysis is performed directly in the cell while the cell is in its production mode, whereby the spectrum is analysed on the basis of reference spectrums based on known compositions, to determine chemical constituents in the cell. Also provided is an apparatus for performing this method.
Claims16
A method for determining chemical constituents of a bath in an electrolysis cell for production of metal, involving the use of Raman spectroscopy that analyses light emitted from the cell constituents and represents the light as a production spectrum, which comprises performing the analysis directly in the cell while the cell is in its production mode, analysing the production spectrum for comparison of the production spectrum with stored reference spectrums recorded of known compositions to retrieve the closest reference spectrum which matches the band profile in a range of 560 to 650 cm−1, and determining the presence and amount of chemical constituents in the bath on the basis of the reference spectrum, wherein the chemical constituents in the bath which are determined include at least oxide concentration and/or cryolite ratio.
An apparatus for analysis of chemical constituents of a bath in an electrolysis cell for production of metal, involving the use of Raman spectroscopy that analyses light emitted from the cell constituents and represents the light emitted as a production spectrum, which apparatus comprises:
- an optical probe connected to a spectrometer, wherein the probe is positioned to receive light emitted substantially perpendicular to a surface of the bath in the cell, the probe being located above the bath surface, and
- a computer connected with the spectrometer for analysing and comparing the production spectrum with stored reference spectrums recorded of known compositions to retrieve the closest reference spectrum which matches the band profile in a range of 560 to 650 cm−1,
- whereby the presence and amount of chemical constituents in the bath can be determined on the basis of the reference spectrum, wherein the chemical constituents in the bath which are determined include at least oxide concentration and/or cryolite ratio.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.