CA2697396A1 - Control of by-pass current in multi-polar light metal reduction cells - Google Patents

Control of by-pass current in multi-polar light metal reduction cells Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2697396A1
CA2697396A1 CA2697396A CA2697396A CA2697396A1 CA 2697396 A1 CA2697396 A1 CA 2697396A1 CA 2697396 A CA2697396 A CA 2697396A CA 2697396 A CA2697396 A CA 2697396A CA 2697396 A1 CA2697396 A1 CA 2697396A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
cell
polar electrode
polar
anode
insulator
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
CA2697396A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2697396C (en
Inventor
Adam J. Gesing
David K. Creber
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Rio Tinto Alcan International Ltd
Original Assignee
Alcan International Limited
Adam J. Gesing
David K. Creber
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Alcan International Limited, Adam J. Gesing, David K. Creber filed Critical Alcan International Limited
Publication of CA2697396A1 publication Critical patent/CA2697396A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2697396C publication Critical patent/CA2697396C/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25CPROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25C3/00Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25CPROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25C3/00Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts
    • C25C3/02Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts of alkali or alkaline earth metals
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25CPROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25C3/00Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts
    • C25C3/04Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts of magnesium
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25CPROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25C3/00Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts
    • C25C3/06Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts of aluminium
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25CPROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25C7/00Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells; Servicing or operating of cells
    • C25C7/005Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells; Servicing or operating of cells of cells for the electrolysis of melts
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25CPROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25C7/00Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells; Servicing or operating of cells
    • C25C7/04Diaphragms; Spacing elements

Abstract

The invention relates to a multi-polar reduction cell for production of a light metal by electrolysis. The cell has an anode, a cathode, and at least one current-conducting multi-polar electrode interposed between the anode and the cathode. The cell has a molten electrolyte containing a metal salt to be electrolyzed held within the cell and preferably has means to maintain an upper surface of the electrolyte at a predetermined level within the cell. The level is preferably maintained above the upper end of the multi-polar electrode(s), at least in use of the cell. The multi-polar electrode has an electrically insulating surface at its upper end that minimizes or eliminates by-pass current between the anode and cathode when the cell is operated. The invention also relates to the method of minimizing or eliminating the by-pass current.

Claims (20)

1. A multi-polar electrolytic cell for producing a light metal by electrolysis of a corresponding metal salt, the cell comprising:
a molten electrolyte containing a metal salt that produces a light metal and a gas when electrolyzed; and an arrangement of generally vertical electrodes surrounded by said molten electrolyte, including an anode, a cathode and at least one current-conducting multi-polar electrode interposed between the anode and the cathode, said at least one multi-polar electrode having an upper end;
wherein said at least one multi-polar electrode has an electrical insulator positioned to extend at least partially over said upper end, and wherein, in use of said cell, said insulator is immersed beneath said electrolyte.
2. The cell of claim 1, wherein said insulator is attached to said multi-polar electrode.
3. The cell of claim 2, wherein said insulator is attached to said multi-polar electrode by a fastening means selected from the group consisting of pins, dovetails, interposed members, and adhesive.
4. The cell of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said insulator has a width between 0.1 and 1.5 times the width of the multi-polar electrode, a length substantially equal to the length of the multi-polar electrode and a height of 1 to 20 times an electrode gap between adjacent electrodes.
5. The cell of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said insulator has a width between 0.5 and 1.0 times the width of the multi-polar electrode, a length substantially equal to the length of the multi-polar electrode and a height of 5 to 10 times an electrode gap between adjacent electrodes.
6. The cell of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an insulating refractory shield is provided on the anode at a position confronting said upper end of an adjacent multi-polar electrode.
7. The cell of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the anode, cathode and said at least one multi-polar electrode are planar and are arranged parallel to each other.
8. The cell of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cathode and said at least one multi-polar electrode each form a continuous body surrounding the anode.
9. The cell of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cathode and said at least one multi-polar electrode are in the form of hollow cylinders surrounding the anode.
10. The cell of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said insulator is made of a material selected from the group consisting of alumina, magnesia, Mg-aluminate spinel, aluminum nitride, silicon nitride and SIALON.
11. A method of minimizing or eliminating by-pass current between and anode and a cathode in a multi-polar electrolysis cell suitable for production of a light metal, said method comprising:
electrically insulating an upper end of at least one multi-polar electrode of said cell, and conducting electrolysis with said insulated upper end maintained below an upper surface of molten electrolyte containing a metal salt to be electrolyzed held within said cell.
12. A multi-polar electrolytic cell for producing a light metal by electrolysis of a corresponding metal salt, the cell comprising:

a molten electrolyte containing a metal salt that produces a light metal and a gas when electrolyzed; and an arrangement of generally vertical electrodes surrounded by said molten electrolyte, including an anode, a cathode and a current-conducting multi-polar electrode interposed between the anode and the cathode, said multi-polar electrode having an upper end and an electrical insulator positioned to extend over said upper end;

wherein, in use of said cell, said insulator is immersed beneath said electrolyte.
13. The cell of claim 12, having at least one other multi-polar electrode interposed between said anode and said cathode.
14. The cell of claim 13, wherein said at least one other multi-polar electrode is provided with an electrical insulator positioned over an upper end thereof.
15. The cell of claim 14, wherein said insulators positioned above said multi-polar electrode and said at least one other multi-polar electrode are interconnected by a spacer made of refractory material.
16. The cell of claim 12, wherein said insulator is attached to said multi-polar electrode.
17. The cell of claim 16, wherein said insulator is attached to said multi-polar electrode by a fastening means selected from the group consisting of pins, dovetails, interposed members, and adhesive.
18. The cell of any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein said insulator has a width between 0.1 and 1.5 times the width of the multi-polar electrode, a length substantially equal to the length of the multi-polar electrode and a height of 5.0 to 10.0 times said width of an electrode gap between adjacent electrodes.
19. The cell of any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein said insulator has a width between 0.5 and 1.0 times the width of the multi-polar electrode, a length substantially equal to the length of the multi-polar electrode and a height of 1.0 to times an electrode gap between adjacent electrodes.
20. The cell of any one of claims 12 to 19, wherein an insulating refractory shield is provided on the anode at a position confronting said upper end of the multi-polar electrode.
CA2697396A 2007-09-14 2008-09-03 Control of by-pass current in multi-polar light metal reduction cells Expired - Fee Related CA2697396C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US97246307P 2007-09-14 2007-09-14
US60/972,463 2007-09-14
PCT/CA2008/001544 WO2009033260A1 (en) 2007-09-14 2008-09-03 Control of by-pass current in multi-polar light metal reduction cells

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2697396A1 true CA2697396A1 (en) 2009-03-19
CA2697396C CA2697396C (en) 2011-11-08

Family

ID=40451505

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2697396A Expired - Fee Related CA2697396C (en) 2007-09-14 2008-09-03 Control of by-pass current in multi-polar light metal reduction cells

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US20100200420A1 (en)
CN (1) CN101802270B (en)
AU (1) AU2008299528B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2697396C (en)
NO (1) NO20100526L (en)
RU (1) RU2010112494A (en)
WO (1) WO2009033260A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102206839A (en) * 2011-06-24 2011-10-05 遵宝钛业有限公司 Method for building magnesium electrolytic tank
CN104562092B (en) * 2015-02-03 2017-05-10 奉新赣锋锂业有限公司 Multi-anode lithium metal electrolytic bath
CN110808354B (en) * 2019-11-25 2022-06-28 衡阳凯新特种材料科技有限公司 Durable silicon nitride electrode protective cover with good insulating property

Family Cites Families (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2468022A (en) * 1944-12-21 1949-04-26 Dow Chemical Co Electrolytic apparatus for producing magnesium
US2629688A (en) * 1950-10-28 1953-02-24 Dow Chemical Co Electrolytic apparatus for production of magnesium
US3396094A (en) * 1962-10-25 1968-08-06 Canada Aluminum Co Electrolytic method and apparatus for production of magnesium
IL61062A (en) * 1979-09-27 1985-05-31 Ishizuka Hiroshi Apparatus for electrolytic production of magnesium metal from its chloride
IL64372A0 (en) * 1980-12-11 1982-02-28 Ishizuka Hiroshi Electrolytic cell for magnesium chloride
JPS58161788A (en) * 1982-03-16 1983-09-26 Hiroshi Ishizuka Apparatus and method for electrolysis of mgcl2
IS1264B6 (en) * 1982-06-14 1987-03-27 Alcan International Limited Metallurgy with electrolysis of molten electrolyte (ionized solution)
US4514269A (en) * 1982-08-06 1985-04-30 Alcan International Limited Metal production by electrolysis of a molten electrolyte
US4510029A (en) * 1984-05-18 1985-04-09 Amax Inc. Molten salt electrostripping cell and method for purifying molten salt electrolytes
AU614590B2 (en) * 1988-03-30 1991-09-05 Toho Titanium Co., Ltd. Electrolytic cell for recovery of metal
JP3812951B2 (en) * 1995-04-21 2006-08-23 アルキャン・インターナショナル・リミテッド Multipolar electrolyzer for metal recovery by electrolysis of molten electrolyte
WO2000003068A1 (en) * 1998-07-08 2000-01-20 Alcan International Limited Molten salt electrolytic cell having metal reservoir
US6488760B1 (en) * 1998-10-13 2002-12-03 The Valspar Corporation Universal paint tinting concentrates
WO2000022050A1 (en) * 1998-10-13 2000-04-20 The Valspar Corporation Universal paint tinting concentrates
US6337008B1 (en) * 2000-06-12 2002-01-08 Alcan International Limited Electrolysis cells

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN101802270B (en) 2012-05-30
US20100200420A1 (en) 2010-08-12
AU2008299528B2 (en) 2012-02-16
AU2008299528A1 (en) 2009-03-19
CA2697396C (en) 2011-11-08
CN101802270A (en) 2010-08-11
WO2009033260A1 (en) 2009-03-19
RU2010112494A (en) 2011-10-20
NO20100526L (en) 2010-06-11

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Effective date: 20130904