US2528905A - Construction of the lower portion of igneous electrolytic cells - Google Patents

Construction of the lower portion of igneous electrolytic cells Download PDF

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Publication number
US2528905A
US2528905A US18388A US1838848A US2528905A US 2528905 A US2528905 A US 2528905A US 18388 A US18388 A US 18388A US 1838848 A US1838848 A US 1838848A US 2528905 A US2528905 A US 2528905A
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bar
bars
current
carbon
cell
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Expired - Lifetime
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US18388A
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English (en)
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Ollivier Pierre Jean M Casimir
Perieres Rene Amans Pi Gabriel
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Compagnie de Produits Chimiques et Electrometallurgiques Alais Froges et Camargue
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    • 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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the construction of the lower portion of igneous electrolytic cells, for instance of the bottom which constitutes the cathode portion of the cell in the case of electrolysis of alumina dissolved in molten cryolite for the obtainment of aluminium, or of thebottom portion constituting the anode portionin the super purity aluminium cells.
  • igneous electrolytic cells for the manufacture or refining of aluminium, have their current lead bars disposed parallel to the bottom of the pot, that is to say in horizontal position.
  • the cross section of the metallic bars is calculated as a function of the current density where said bars roject from the carbon blocks, that is to say where the current is maximum, Whereas, under the central portion of the pot the current density is much lower. As the bar is of the same cross section over its whole length, the amount of metal that is used is too great.
  • the length of the current lead bars is increased in accordance with the thickness of this layer, which further increases the amount of metal to be used.
  • the weight of the current lead bars which is to be increased in accordance with the value of the cell width or with the thickness of this layer, is so high that it becomes very difficult to make the bottom portion of the electrolytic cell.
  • the object of the present invention is to eliminate'these drawbacks.
  • a feature of our invention consists in disposing the current lead bars no longer parallel to the bottom of the electrolytic cell, but perpendicular to this bottom, so that the ends of these bars, after passing freely through the bricks that form a heat insulating layer under the carbon lining of the cell and the vault that supports said cell (the expression passing freely meaning that said bars are not fixed to said bricks nor to said vault),-with the interposition of a packing device, open into a'free space provided under the electrolytic cell.
  • Fig. l is a vertical sectional View of the pot of an electrolytic cell for the manufacture or refining of aluminium, the bottom of the pot being made of a paste consisting of carbon and pitch in which the intermediate portions of the current leading conductors are embedded, the ends of said conductors projecting from the bottom of the pot at rightangles thereto;
  • Fig. 2 shows the pot of a similar cell, the bottom of which is constituted by carbon blocks, previously baked, in which the current leading. conductors, which project vertically therefrom, are fixed by means of a molten metal;
  • Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views in section, at right angles to each other, illustrating. the sealing of a metal bar in a block of the cell bottom, in the case of a bar of usual section;
  • Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive show a preferred form of current leading conductor, of cross-shaped transverse section
  • Fig. 5 is a perspective view of such a conductor
  • Fig. 6 shows in plan view the shape of the notch to be provided in the under face of the carbon block for sealing the conductor therein;
  • Figs. 7 and 8 show the conductor after sealingthereof in the carbon block, Fig. 7 being a sectional view on the line 'l-l of Fig. 6 and Fig. 8 a sectional View on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6;
  • Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. '7, but with a slight deflection of the top part of the conductor, in order to improve the fixation;
  • Fig. 10 shows a portion of the bottom of the electrolytic cell, with its heat insulating lining, this construction including an advantageous device for obtaining airtightness in the passage of the cross-shaped current lead through the heat insulating lining and the concrete vault that supports the electrolytic cell, while enabling this conductor, to follow the upward movement of the carbon block in which it is sealed.
  • reference numeral 1! designates thepotlining, made of a paste ofcarbon and, pitch, in which the current leads 15 are embedded.
  • the bars may, asshoyvn by the drawing, be of T-shaped transverse section, so as to reduce their length toa minimum. They extend through the lay-er of .brieks L2 which constitutes the heat. insulating supportiof the cell, and also through the concrete vault H which supports the whole of the cell and thus constituting a carrier structure for the latter, passages I 8 being provided for said bars when heat insulating layer [2 and vault I! are built.
  • the current leading bars have 'a T-shaped forged end which is sealed in the carbon paste or in metal poured in grooves provided in the lower portion of the carbon blocks. Said bars l5 extend vertically through passages l8 as above referred to.
  • bar [5 is sealed in block M by means of a carbon paste or a molten metal layer 13.
  • the cross-shaped sealing arrangement illustrated by Figs. 5 to 9 permits of combining a satisfactory strength with an advantageous electric contact between the bar and the carbon block.
  • the cathode or'anode connection is obtained through two metal sheets of a thickness calculated according to the current density to be obtained where the molten metal is in contact with the carbon block.
  • connection device (Fig. 5) ensures a good rigidity thereof, which may be a supplementary advantage.
  • the device in question is constituted by two metal sheets 20, folded and welded together at some points 2
  • This arrangement ensures an important advantage, to wit that of not weakening the block by grooves of large dimensions opening to the outside and of requiring a relatively small amount of cast metal, so that it produces neither an excessive thermal shock nor an undue expense of metal when the sealing operation is performed.
  • Fig. 7 illustrates the sealing of a cross-shaped current lead 23 which does not include an enlarged portion as shown at 22 in Fig. 5.
  • This Fig. '7 corresponds to a section on the line 1-l of Fig. 6.
  • Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.
  • reference numeral l4 designates the carbon block and I3 the metal used for sealing purposes.
  • Fig. 9 shows, another type of sealing, according to which the top portion 25 of the current leading conductor 23 is slightly bent, that is to say laterally deflected, so as to improve the strength with which the'current leading bar is sealed in the metal portion I3.
  • the groove 26 provided in carbon block 14 must also be slightlyoblique.
  • the space to be filled with sealing metal is much smaller in the case of cross-shaped sealing than in that of ordinary sealing, an advantage which exists, although to a lower degree, in the case of vertical sealing.
  • the vertical current leading bars therefore extend through the whole of the heat insulating layer l2, provided under carbon blocks 14 (or under the crucible bottom constituted by a single paste layer) and also through the vault ll of the concrete floor that supports the cell, in a hollow l8 provided in the masonry when the floor and the cell are built.
  • the interval between the metallic bar and the wall that limits this hollow space l8 must be filled in such manner as to remain practically airtight. For, if air could penetrate to the carbon element heated to a temperature of 900 C., it would burn it and the life of the lower portion of the retort would be greatly reduced. It has been found that this airtightness could be obtained solely by means of pulverulent refractory matters.
  • bar 23 is surrounded with a grout of a pulverulent.
  • a sheet of asbestos 28 is interposed between the heat-insulating coating [2 and the vault ll. This sheet is previously slit along two lines forming a cross, the edges of the slits being normally closely 'juxtaposed, so that connection bar 23, when inserted in position, forces these edges away from each other, thus forming a joint which is sufiiciently tight for preventing alumina mixed with fine refractory dust, located at 29 above the refractory sheet, from flowin out.
  • the sheet of asbestos 28 should be given a certain degree of mobility so as to permit of adjusting it in position with respect to the connection bar, whereby the lat ter can be'arranged to pass correctly through the slits provided in advance in said sheet.
  • This sheet of asbestos 28 is housed in a recess proovided in the upper face of a layer of re-: fractory grout 32, interposed between the heat insulating layer of refractory bricks l2 and the vault l1. 1 y
  • the arrangement of the current leading conductors at right angles to the bottom of the pot permits of avoiding the drawbacks above mentioned.
  • the bottom of the pot is constituted by carbon blocks of square cross section of 500 x 500 mm. or 600 x 600 mm. size
  • the transverse section of the vertical conductor bar can therefore be adapted exactly to the area that corresponds thereto. Its length is reduced to a minimum, so that its weight is much lower than in the case of horizontally disposed current leading bars, and it becomes easy to build electrolytic cells for high current intensity, as high as 100,000 amperes.
  • the vertical arrangement of the connection bars has still other advantages such as, for instance, a reduction of the weight of the materials, a gain on the potential drops and the weights of the connections due to the fact that some of the circuits of the plant are shortened.
  • Cells constructed according to the present invention are thus placed above a vault, on a culvert, on a raised floor or other carrier structure providing a hollow space thereunder, so as to ensure easy access to the current leading elements.
  • This construction therefore facilitates control of the current distribution in the bottom portion of the pot, and it is even possible to insulate one of the vertical bars having a defective sealing, and which corresponds to only a small portion of the bottom area.
  • the bottom of the retort is constituted by carbon blocks that have been subjected to a preliminary baking, sealing of the current leading elements can be performed much more easily and requires a smaller amount of precautions than in the case of a horizontal bar arrangement.
  • This improved method of making the lower portion of pots, above described in a detailed manner for igneous electrolytic cells, and in particular those for use in the manufacture of aluminium, can also be applied to electro-metallurgical furnaces.
  • a construction of the lower portion of an electrolytic cell which comprises, in combination, a plurality of prebaked carbon blocks disposed in adjacent relation to one another to form a carbon lining at the bottom of said cell, a heat insulating layer under said carbon lining, a carrier structure under said heat insulating layer providing a hollow space thereunder, a plurality of current leading metallic bars each sealed to one of said carbon blocks and extending at right angles to said carbon lining, said bars passing freely through said heat insulating layer and through said carrier structure and projecting into said hollow space, and packing means interposed between said metallic bars and said heat insulating layer and said carrier structure, said packing means including in combination, a pulverulent refractory material filling the space between each bar and the heat insulating layer, a sheet of asbestos arranged between the heat insulating layer and the carrier structure therefor transversely to said bar and frictionally engaged thereon, a compressible packing material filling the space between said bar and said carrier structure below said sheet, and a metal sheet fixed to said bar below said bar

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Metals (AREA)
US18388A 1947-09-08 1948-04-01 Construction of the lower portion of igneous electrolytic cells Expired - Lifetime US2528905A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

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FR953374T 1947-09-08

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US (1) US2528905A (fr)
BE (1) BE484042A (fr)
CH (1) CH280894A (fr)
FR (1) FR953374A (fr)
GB (1) GB657507A (fr)
NL (1) NL69585C (fr)

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2824057A (en) * 1950-08-12 1958-02-18 Aluminum Co Of America Electrolytic reduction cell for producing aluminum
US2856343A (en) * 1956-08-31 1958-10-14 Nat Distillers Chem Corp Electrolytic cell
US2868710A (en) * 1952-11-17 1959-01-13 Montedison Spa Device for supplying current to the bottom of electrolytic furnaces
US3028324A (en) * 1957-05-01 1962-04-03 British Aluminium Co Ltd Producing or refining aluminum
US3063919A (en) * 1954-02-09 1962-11-13 Pechiney Prod Chimiques Sa Method of operating high amperage electrolytic cells
US3434958A (en) * 1967-01-04 1969-03-25 Arthur F Johnson Electrolytic cell bottom construction
US4172023A (en) * 1977-12-16 1979-10-23 Swiss Aluminium Ltd. Protective electrode sleeve
US4194959A (en) * 1977-11-23 1980-03-25 Alcan Research And Development Limited Electrolytic reduction cells
US4198282A (en) * 1977-06-01 1980-04-15 Norsk Hydro A.S Replaceable cathode unit suitable as a module for building up of stable, non-deformable cathode systems in electrolyzers for the production of magnesium, and an electrolyzer with cathode units incorporated therein
US4277638A (en) * 1978-12-29 1981-07-07 Asea Aktiebolag Prefabricated unit for a DC arc furnace
US4552638A (en) * 1984-11-13 1985-11-12 Aluminum Company Of America Electrode assembly having improved current distribution for use in an electrolytic reduction cell
US4557817A (en) * 1984-11-13 1985-12-10 Aluminum Company Of America Reduced voltage electrode design
US4647356A (en) * 1983-05-16 1987-03-03 Aluminium Pechiney Cathode rod comprising a metal sole, for hall-heroult electrolysis cells
US4687566A (en) * 1985-03-06 1987-08-18 Swiss Aluminium Ltd. Protective collar for anode spade pin
US4824543A (en) * 1987-12-02 1989-04-25 Aluminum Company Of America Electrode design for increased current distribution
US20150284863A1 (en) * 2012-11-13 2015-10-08 United Company RUSAL Engineering and Technology Centre Lining for an aluminum electrolyzer having inert anodes

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US673453A (en) * 1895-06-25 1901-05-07 Roberts Chemical Company Connector for electrodes.
FR367165A (fr) * 1906-06-14 1906-10-22 Edgar Arthur Ashcroft Perfectionnements dans les électrolyseurs
US2012365A (en) * 1934-07-11 1935-08-27 Arthur M Werner Apparatus for purifying alcoholic liquors
US2034339A (en) * 1932-11-08 1936-03-17 Cie De Prod Chim Et Electro Me Refining of aluminum
GB542886A (en) * 1940-10-07 1942-01-30 Birmingham Aluminium Castings Furnace or cell for carrying out aluminium refining process
US2344859A (en) * 1941-02-07 1944-03-21 Abraham L Fox Method of producing calcium boride
US2451490A (en) * 1944-08-04 1948-10-19 Reynolds Metals Company Inc Production of aluminum

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US673453A (en) * 1895-06-25 1901-05-07 Roberts Chemical Company Connector for electrodes.
FR367165A (fr) * 1906-06-14 1906-10-22 Edgar Arthur Ashcroft Perfectionnements dans les électrolyseurs
US2034339A (en) * 1932-11-08 1936-03-17 Cie De Prod Chim Et Electro Me Refining of aluminum
US2012365A (en) * 1934-07-11 1935-08-27 Arthur M Werner Apparatus for purifying alcoholic liquors
GB542886A (en) * 1940-10-07 1942-01-30 Birmingham Aluminium Castings Furnace or cell for carrying out aluminium refining process
US2344859A (en) * 1941-02-07 1944-03-21 Abraham L Fox Method of producing calcium boride
US2451490A (en) * 1944-08-04 1948-10-19 Reynolds Metals Company Inc Production of aluminum

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2824057A (en) * 1950-08-12 1958-02-18 Aluminum Co Of America Electrolytic reduction cell for producing aluminum
US2868710A (en) * 1952-11-17 1959-01-13 Montedison Spa Device for supplying current to the bottom of electrolytic furnaces
US3063919A (en) * 1954-02-09 1962-11-13 Pechiney Prod Chimiques Sa Method of operating high amperage electrolytic cells
US2856343A (en) * 1956-08-31 1958-10-14 Nat Distillers Chem Corp Electrolytic cell
US3028324A (en) * 1957-05-01 1962-04-03 British Aluminium Co Ltd Producing or refining aluminum
US3434958A (en) * 1967-01-04 1969-03-25 Arthur F Johnson Electrolytic cell bottom construction
US4198282A (en) * 1977-06-01 1980-04-15 Norsk Hydro A.S Replaceable cathode unit suitable as a module for building up of stable, non-deformable cathode systems in electrolyzers for the production of magnesium, and an electrolyzer with cathode units incorporated therein
US4194959A (en) * 1977-11-23 1980-03-25 Alcan Research And Development Limited Electrolytic reduction cells
US4172023A (en) * 1977-12-16 1979-10-23 Swiss Aluminium Ltd. Protective electrode sleeve
US4277638A (en) * 1978-12-29 1981-07-07 Asea Aktiebolag Prefabricated unit for a DC arc furnace
US4647356A (en) * 1983-05-16 1987-03-03 Aluminium Pechiney Cathode rod comprising a metal sole, for hall-heroult electrolysis cells
US4552638A (en) * 1984-11-13 1985-11-12 Aluminum Company Of America Electrode assembly having improved current distribution for use in an electrolytic reduction cell
US4557817A (en) * 1984-11-13 1985-12-10 Aluminum Company Of America Reduced voltage electrode design
US4687566A (en) * 1985-03-06 1987-08-18 Swiss Aluminium Ltd. Protective collar for anode spade pin
US4824543A (en) * 1987-12-02 1989-04-25 Aluminum Company Of America Electrode design for increased current distribution
US20150284863A1 (en) * 2012-11-13 2015-10-08 United Company RUSAL Engineering and Technology Centre Lining for an aluminum electrolyzer having inert anodes
US9850586B2 (en) * 2012-11-13 2017-12-26 United Company RUSAL Engineering and Technology Centre LLC Lining for an aluminum electrolyzer having inert anodes

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL69585C (fr)
GB657507A (en) 1951-09-19
FR953374A (fr) 1949-12-05
BE484042A (fr)
CH280894A (fr) 1952-02-15

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