Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25C—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25C3/00—Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts
  • C25C3/06—Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts of aluminium
  • C25C3/14—Devices for feeding or crust breaking
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25C—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25C3/00—Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts
  • C25C3/06—Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts of aluminium
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25C—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25C3/00—Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts
  • C25C3/06—Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts of aluminium
  • C25C3/08—Cell construction, e.g. bottoms, walls, cathodes
  • C25C3/10—External supporting frames or structures
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25C—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25C7/00—Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells; Servicing or operating of cells

Definitions

• the invention relates to the production of aluminum by igneous electrolysis according to the Hall-Héroult process. It relates more particularly to the service modules used in aluminum production plants.
• Aluminum is produced industrially by igneous electrolysis, according to the well-known Hall-Héroult process, in electrolysis cells.
• the factories contain a large number of electrolysis cells arranged in a line, in buildings called halls or electrolysis rooms, and electrically connected in series using connecting conductors, so as to optimize the floor occupation of factories.
• the cells are generally arranged so as to form two or more parallel lines which are electrically linked together by end conductors.
• an electrolysis plant requires interventions on the electrolysis cells which include, in particular, the replacement of used anodes with new anodes, the removal of liquid metal from the cells and the removal or addition of electrolyte.
• interventions on the electrolysis cells include, in particular, the replacement of used anodes with new anodes, the removal of liquid metal from the cells and the removal or addition of electrolyte.
• the most modern factories are equipped with one or more service units comprising a movable bridge which can be translated above the electrolysis cells, and along the series of cells, and one or more several service machines each comprising a trolley and a service module provided with handling and intervention members (often called "tools"), such as shovels and hoists, and capable of being moved on the mobile bridge.
• tools handling and intervention members
• electrolysis service machines or "MSE”("PTA” or “Pot Tending Assembly” or “PTM” or “Pot Tending Machine” in English).
• MSE electrolysis service machines
• the electrolysis cells are arranged as close together as possible and close to one of the lateral sides of the rooms electrolysis and a circulation aisle as narrow as possible is built close to the other lateral side of the rooms.
• This provision requires that the distance between the walls of the electrolysis room and the limits of the working area of each of the tools of the service machines is as small as possible, in particular for access to the electrolysis cells. This distance is called “tool approach”.
• the position of the cells in the electrolysis room and the total surface area of the room which results therefrom depend appreciably on the volume occupied by the service machines and on the possibilities of approach and movement of their tools.
• the known service modules occupy a large volume which prohibits a reduced approach to the sides of the electrolysis rooms, in particular the lateral sides, and which appreciably limits their movements near these sides.
• the subject of the invention is a service module for a series of electrolysis cells intended for the production of aluminum by igneous electrolysis comprising a chassis capable of being fixed to a carriage and a turret mounted on the chassis so as to be able to pivot around a vertical axis A in use, defining a substantially horizontal plane in use, called "turret plane" Pt, and equipped with: - a set of tools including in particular a breaker mounted on a telescopic arm, a shovel with buckets mounted on a telescopic arm, at least one first anode clamp mounted on a telescopic arm and a hopper provided with a retractable conduit; a balcony or a cabin comprising controls intended to operate the module and said tools and a driving position from which an operator can actuate said controls, and characterized in that, with respect to a first plane PI and to a second plane P2, perpendicular to each other and to the plane Pt of the turret and intersecting on the axis A:
• the center C of the driving position is located at a determined distance C1 from the plane PI and at a determined distance C2 from the plane P2; - the center of the bucket shovel and the center of the first anode clamp are located on the opposite side of the PI plane with respect to the driving position;
• the picker and said retractable conduit are arranged between the driving position and the row formed by the bucket shovel and the first anode clamp.
• the service module includes at least four basic tools used for anode changes while remaining compact.
• the invention also makes it possible to make the operations symmetrical, so that a service machine equipped with a module according to the invention can be used interchangeably regardless of the position of the cells relative to the lateral sides of the bathroom. electrolysis.
• the invention also makes it possible to avoid the use of two or more concentric turrets, which consequently makes it possible to simplify the design of the service module.
• the invention also relates to a service machine comprising a carriage and a service module as described above.
• the invention also relates to a service unit of an aluminum production plant by igneous electrolysis comprising a movable bridge and at least one service machine according to the invention.
• the invention also relates to the use of a service unit according to the invention for interventions on electrolysis cells intended for the production of aluminum by igneous electrolysis.
• Another subject of the invention is a method for changing the anode of an electrolysis cell intended for the production of aluminum by igneous electrolysis, in which at least one determined anode is replaced by a new anode using a module service according to the invention.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a typical electrolysis room, seen in section, intended for the production of aluminum and comprising a service unit shown diagrammatically.
• FIGS 2 and 3 show, schematically, arrangements of the basic tools of the service module according to the invention, seen from below.
• Figures 4 and 5 illustrate, schematically, exemplary embodiments of the service module according to the invention, in side view.
• FIG. 6 illustrates the operations for changing anodes which can be carried out with a module according to the invention.
• Electrolysis plants for the production of aluminum include a liquid aluminum production area which includes one or more electrolysis rooms (1).
• each electrolysis room (1) comprises electrolysis cells (2) and at least one "service unit” or “service machine” (3).
• the electrolysis cells (2) are normally arranged in rows or rows, each row or row typically comprising more than a hundred cells.
• the cells (2) are arranged so as to clear a circulation aisle (31) along the electrolysis room (1).
• the cells (2) comprise a series of anodes (21) provided with a metal rod (22) intended for the fixing and the electrical connection of the anodes to a metallic anode frame (not illustrated).
• the service unit (3) is used to carry out operations on the cells (2) such as changing the anode or filling the feed hoppers with ground bath and A1F 3 of the electrolysis cells. It can also be used to handle various loads, such as tank elements, pockets of liquid metal or anodes.
• the invention particularly relates to service units capable of carrying out anode changes.
• the service unit (3) comprises a movable bridge (4) which can be translated above the electrolysis cells (2) and a service machine (5) comprising a movable carriage (6) capable of being moved over the mobile bridge (4) and a service module (7) equipped with several handling and intervention devices (10), such as tools (shovels, anode pliers, stitches, ).
• the mobile bridge (4) rests and circulates on raceways (30, 30 ') arranged parallel to each other and to the main axis of the hall (and of the cell file).
• the movable bridge (4) can thus be moved along the electrolysis room (1).
• the service module (7) comprises a chassis (8), typically a platform, capable of being fixed to a carriage (6) and a turret (9) mounted on the chassis (8 ) so that it can pivot around a vertical axis A in use.
• the turret (9) is equipped with a balcony or a control cabin (18) comprising controls intended to operate the module (7) and said tools (10) and a driving position (19) from which an operator can actuate said controls.
• the turret (9) is also equipped with a determined set of tools (10), namely at least one drill (11) mounted on a telescopic arm (1 la), a bucket shovel (12) mounted on a telescopic arm (12a), at least one anode handling clamp (hereinafter called “anode clamp”) (13, 14) mounted on a telescopic arm (13a, 14a), and a hopper (15 ) provided with a retractable duct (16).
• tools (10) are intended for the operations of changing the anodes of the hall electrolysis cells.
• the pricker (11) is used to break the crust of alumina and solidified bath which generally covers the anodes of the cell;
• the bucket shovel (12) is used to clear the location of the anode, after removal of the spent anode, by removal of solid materials (such as pieces of crust and carbon and alumina) which s 'are there;
• the anode clamp (s) (13, 14) are used to grasp and handle the anodes by their rod, in particular for removing spent anodes from an electrolysis cell and placing new anodes in the cell electrolysis;
• the retractable conduit (16) is used to introduce alumina and / or ground bath into the electrolysis cell, so as to reform a coating layer, after the installation of a new anode.
• the turret (9) according to the invention can also be equipped with additional tools, such as a hoist.
• a telescopic arm (l ia, 12a, 13a, 14a) comprises at least one fixed member and a first movable member capable of being translated relative to the fixed member along a determined translation axis .
• the fixed and mobile members have a substantially elongated shape, such as a rod, a barrel or a more complex shape, with which a main axis can be associated in the lengthwise direction.
• the main axis of the fixed and mobile member (s) is typically substantially vertical in use.
• the determined axis of translation is generally parallel to the main axis of the fixed member and may coincide with it.
• the fixed member is fixed to the turret (9) rigidly or flexibly.
• a flexible fixing allows a certain movement of the movable member relative to its fixing point.
• the tools are attached to the movable member, generally at one end thereof.
• the fixed member can be a first hollow barrel of substantially square section and the movable member a second barrel of substantially square section capable of sliding inside the first barrel; in this example, the main axis of the first and second barrels coincide.
• the telescopic arm may comprise one or more intermediate movable members, located between the fixed member and the first movable member and able to be translated relative to the latter.
• the turret (9) defines a plane Pt perpendicular to the axis A, and therefore substantially horizontal in use, called the plane of the turret.
• this plane is divided into four geometric quadrants delimited by two planes (PI, P2), perpendicular to the plane of the turret (and therefore vertical in use), perpendicular to one 'other and passing through axis A.
• This reference system is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.
• the space is then divided into four subspaces each corresponding to one of the four quadrants delimited by the two planes PI and P2.
• the quadrants, and the corresponding subspaces are designated by the Roman numerals I to IN for the purposes of the description.
• the tools are normally located on the same side of the plane of the turret, namely the side which is below this plane (and therefore under the chassis and the turret) in use.
• the center of the driving position (19) is located either in the reference subspace (I or IN) located on one side of the plane PI, or on the plane P2 which separates these two subspaces;
• - the center of the bucket shovel (12) and the center of the anode clamp (s) (13, 14) are located, on the opposite side of the PI plane, either in a subspace adjacent to the subspace of reference (for example in subspace II when the center of the driving position is in subspace I), or in the subspace opposite to the reference subspace (for example in subspace III when the center of the driving position is in subspace I);
• - the breaker (11) and the retractable conduit (16) are arranged between the driving position (18) and either the plane Pa parallel to the plane PI and passing through the center of the first anode clamp (13), or the plane Pb parallel to the PI plane and passing through the center of the bucket shovel (12), depending on the space available left by the bucket shovel and the anode clamp (s).
• the breaker (11) and the retractable conduit (16) are then disposed between the driving position (18) and the row formed by the bucket shovel (12) and the anode clamp (s) (13, 14) .
• the breaker (11) can be placed between the driving position (19) and the bucket shovel (12) and the retractable duct (16) can be placed between the driving position (19) and the clamp (s) (s) with anodes (13, 14).
• the picker (11) and the retractable conduit (16) are preferably located between the PI plane and said row, and more generally between the PI plane and the row formed by the bucket shovel (12) and the anode pliers (13 , 14).
• the picker (11) and the retractable conduit (16) are preferably still located between the plane P12 parallel to the axis A and passing through the center of the driving position (19) and the center of the bucket shovel (12) and the plane PI 3 or P14 parallel to the axis A and passing through the center of the driving position (19) and the center of the anode clamp (13 or 14) which is the furthest from the center of the shovel.
• the position of the tools according to the invention allows visibility over all of the anode changing tools (11 to 16) when the operator intervenes in the work area (17) at level of the tank or in the working area (17 ') at the level of the anode rod fasteners (22).
• the operator's point of view on the anode changing operations is designated by the reference 20.
• the position of the tools according to the invention also makes it possible to carry out said operations without requiring rotation of the turret (9) around axis A; the positioning of the tools relative to the location of an anode (21) or of its rod (22) during said operations requires only slight displacements of the turret (9) by horizontal translation and / or slight pivoting of the turret (9) relative to the axis A.
• the driving position (19), the bucket shovel (12) and the anode clamp (s) (13, 14)) are located at determined radial distances from the A axis. These distances can be given in terms of distances from the planes PI and P2, as indicated in FIG. 2 (namely Cl and C2 for the driving position, Bl and B2 for the bucket shovel, Al and A2 for the first anode clamp, Al 'and A2' for the possible second anode clamp, ).
• the distances from the plane PI (Al, Al ', Bl, Cl) depend in particular on the size of the tools, the height of the movable bridge (4), the dimensions of the cells (2) and the distance which separates them.
• the angle S between the plane P2 and the plane Pc passing through the axis A and the center C of the driving position (19) is preferably between 0 and 40 °, and more preferably between 0 and 15 °.
• This arrangement makes it possible to place the operator's field of vision between the telescopic arm (1 la) of the pricker and the retractable conduit (16), which is typically actuated by a telescopic arm, while preserving the possibility of maintaining these components at near the P2 plane.
• the determined distance C2 from the driving position (19) is typically between 0 and 1000 mm, and more typically between 100 and 600 mm.
• the bucket shovel (12) and the first anode clamp (13) are spaced so as to leave sufficient space between them to prevent them from colliding.
• the center of the bucket shovel (12) and the center of the first anode clamp (13) are located on opposite sides of the plane P2.
• This configuration makes it possible to make the operation of the module symmetrical, with respect to a rotation of 180 ° around the axis A, while preserving the compactness of the module and the visibility of the operator on the tools.
• an exemplary arrangement of which is illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 2 the center C of the driving position (19) and the center of the bucket shovel (12) are located on the same side of the P2 plan.
• the center C of the driving position (19) can be located in the subspace I and the center of the bucket shovel (12) can be located in the subspace II; the center of the first anode clamp (13) is then preferably in the subspace III.
• the mirror configuration with respect to the plane P2 is also possible.
• the center C of the driving position (19) and the center of the first anode clamp (13) are located in the same side of the P2 plane.
• the center C of the driving position (19) can be located in the IN space and the center of the first anode clamp (13) can be located in the space III; the center of the bucket shovel (12) is then preferably in the subspace I
• the mirror configuration with respect to the plane P2 is also possible.
• the service module (7) may further comprise at least one additional anode clamp (14) - typically one or two additional clamps - mounted on a telescopic arm and located in the same subspace as the first anode clamp (13).
• the center of the additional anode clamp (14) is preferably located on the same side of the planes PI and P2 as the center of the first clamp (13). More preferably, the center of the additional anode clamp (14) is also located in the plane Pa parallel to the plane PI and passing through the center of the first anode clamp (13).
• the plane Pa parallel to the plane PI and passing through the center of the first anode clamp (13) and the plane Pb parallel to the plane PI and passing through the center of the shovel to the buckets (12) are advantageously spaced apart by a relatively small distance F, which is typically between 0 and 300 mm.
• F typically between 0 and 300 mm.
• the telescopic arms of the bucket shovel and the anode clamp (s) are substantially aligned, that is to say that they form a row of tools, so that their active part is located in an area distant from operator station and thus provides great visibility in the field of action of these tools.
• the operator can go from one tool to the next by a simple longitudinal movement along the bridge and a small movement of the bridge itself.
• the pricker (11) is located at a distance from the plane P2 of between 0 and 200 mm.
• the angle P between the plane P2 and the plane Pp passing through the telescopic arm (11a) of the nozzle (11) and the nozzle (11) is preferably between 0 and 20 °.
• the telescopic arm (1a) of the pricker (11) is located near, and possibly in, the plane PI. This arrangement allows simultaneous operating symmetry of the module, by a rotation of 180 ° relative to the axis A, and a high compactness of the module.
• the pricker (11) is typically placed on a bent arm fixed to the end of its telescopic arm (l ia), as illustrated in FIG. 5.
• the telescopic arm (1 la) of the pricker (11) can be vertical (figure 5) or inclined ( Figure 4) relative to the axis A.
• the distance between the center of the driving position (19) and the center of the bucket shovel (12) and the distance between the center of the driving position (19) and the center of the or each anode clamp (13, 14) are typically between 3 and 5 meters. These distances are determined center to center and correspond to the line segments D12, D13, D14 parallel to the plane Pt of the turret shown in FIG. 2.
• the angular opening N between the plane PI 2 parallel to the axis A and passing through the center of the driving position (19) and the center of the bucket shovel (12) and the plane PI 3 or P14 parallel to the axis A and passing through the center of the driving position (19) and the center of the anode pliers (13, 14) furthest from the center of the shovel is preferably less than 30 °, and more preferably less than 20 °.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a possible embodiment of the service module according to the invention.
• the drawings show a side view of the module and in section of the movable bridge (4); drawing 4 (A) corresponds to drawing 4 (B), except that the bucket shovel
• the module is installed on a carriage (6) so as to constitute a service machine (5).
• the carriage (6) is mounted on the two crosspieces (4 ', 4 ") of a bridge so that it can move along the latter.
• the breaker is shown in a" waiting "position (H 1 ) and in a "working” position (11); in this last position, the pricker has access to the working area (17) of the tools.
• the telescopic arm (1 la) of the pricker is inclined relative to the axis A .
• FIG. 5 illustrates another possible embodiment of the service module according to the invention.
• the tools are shown in the standby position.
• the hopper (15) is placed closer to the cabin or the balcony (18) than in the example in FIG. 4.
• the telescopic arm (1 la) of the pricker is parallel to the axis A.
• the invention is particularly advantageous for a method of changing the anode of an electrolysis cell (2) intended for the production of aluminum by igneous electrolysis, in which:
• a service module (7) according to the invention is approached from said cell (2);
• the new anode is covered with alumina and / or a ground bath using the retractable conduit (16).

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• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Electrochemistry (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Metallurgy (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Electrolytic Production Of Metals (AREA)

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• 2004
  • 2004-03-25 FR FR0403080A patent/FR2868086B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2005
  • 2005-02-17 US US11/059,301 patent/US7780823B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2005-03-16 AR ARP050101026A patent/AR051432A1/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2005-03-22 CA CA2560675A patent/CA2560675C/fr active Active
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  • 2005-03-22 EP EP05742627.2A patent/EP1740740B1/de active Active
  • 2005-03-22 WO PCT/FR2005/000695 patent/WO2005095676A2/fr active Application Filing
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• 2006
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