US2713024A - Process for the continuous feeding of electrolytic aluminum cells - Google Patents

Process for the continuous feeding of electrolytic aluminum cells Download PDF

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Publication number
US2713024A
US2713024A US225482A US22548251A US2713024A US 2713024 A US2713024 A US 2713024A US 225482 A US225482 A US 225482A US 22548251 A US22548251 A US 22548251A US 2713024 A US2713024 A US 2713024A
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United States
Prior art keywords
bath
alumina
crust
screw
feeding
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Expired - Lifetime
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US225482A
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English (en)
Inventor
Mantovanello Giovanni
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Montedison SpA
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Montedison SpA
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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
    • C25C3/14—Devices for feeding or crust breaking

Definitions

  • the anodic efiect occurs in electrolytic cells when the concentration of alumina dissolved in the fused bath v drops below a certain critical limit; so that the resistance to the passage of electric current increases and the voltage of the cell, which in normal operation is generally between 4 and volts, rises to values of about to volts.
  • the concentration of aluminum oxide in the fused electrolytic bath varies continuously between a maximum and a minimum, from the instant when the alumina is introduced immediately after occurrence of the anodic effect, to the instant, when the anodic effect re-appears. This causes higher consumption of energy and smaller current efficiency than would be attainable if the composition of the bath could be kept constant by introducing the alumina into the bath continuously.
  • the alumina is fed into the bath under a continuous pressure sufiicient to overcome the mechanical resistance of the superficial crust so that the alumina is forced to penetrate into the molten bath portion.
  • the pressure for the continuous andregular penetration of alumina into the fused bath is applied, according to another feature of the invention, by mechanical means, preferably by a screw-type thrust feeder, or by compressed air or gas.
  • the introduction of the alumina into the bath according to this method may be effected at any point of the cell; at any rate, the dissolving of the alumina is facilitated if the introduction takes place in the proximity of the electrodes, where the agitation in the bath is a maximum due to convection currents or due to the evolution of anodic gases.
  • the process may be applied to any type or form of cells for instance, with single or multiple pre-baked electrodes, or with Siiderberg type self-baking electrodes in single or multiple arrangements. Moreover, the process is not limited to cells of any particular output capacity, it being obvious that the number of units for the pressure feeding of alumina may be varied at will according to the various requirements.
  • Fig. 1 represents diagrammatically a device for the application of the process with a central screw-type feeder mounted within a continuous soderberg electrode.
  • Fig. 2 represents diagrammatically a device with two screw-type thrust feeders within a Siiderberg electrode.
  • Fig. 3 represents diagrammatically a device with a screw-type thrust feeder outside a Socierberg electrode.
  • Fig. 4 represents diagrammatically the application of the process with a screw-type thrust feeder in the case of a multiple anode furnace.
  • Fig. 5 represents diagrammatically the application of the process with a screw device acting as a thrust feeder as well as a measuring device.
  • Fig. 6 represents diagrammatically the application of the process with compressed air or gas.
  • Fig. 7 represents diagrammatically the application of the process with a piston system.
  • the electric furnace cell shown in Fig. 1 has the cavity of its lined vessel 13 filled with a quantity of a fused fluoride bath 4. Partially submerged in the bath is an electrode 11.
  • the bath is supplied with alumina from a tank or feed hopper 1.
  • the alumina is discharged from the hopper by means of a screw-type measuring device 2 into a pipe 3 and is injected into the bath 4 by means of a screw-type thrust feeder 5.
  • the assembly is actuated by an electric motor 6, which drives the measuring device 2 and the screw 5 through a coupling 9 and through respective gear boxes '7 and 8.
  • a metallic feed pipe 19 containing the screw 5 extends down to a height in the order of some centimeters above the surface of the bath 4, taking into account the oscillations in bath level.
  • the pipe 10 containing the screw 5 may be made adjustable in height with any suitable means (not shown).
  • the bore in electrode 11, wherein the pipe 10 is accommodated, is determined by a circular liner 12 fixed to the furnace roof or other structure (not shown).
  • a plurality of feeding units may be actuated, by the same motor or by separate motors as represented Patented July 12, 1955,
  • the feeding may be performed externally of the electrode, that is between the electrode and the side wall of the furnace, as illustrated in Fig. 31
  • the descending column of alumina powder is still guided by the feed pipe 19 containing the screw 5, but is no longer guided by an electrode boreJ
  • the alumina does not tend to spread and clog outsidethe feed pipe. Due to the feed pressure applied by the screw in the illustrated embodiment, the alumina below the pipe forms a truncated cone having its base on the fused bath or crust. Under the effect of. the feed pressure the base of the cone grows only until it reaches a certain size, and the continuing pressure, acting in the vertical direction, then breaks the crust or prevents it from forming.
  • the feeding device may be mounted on any type furnace, for instance also on furnaces with multiple anodes 14 as illustrated in Fig. 4.
  • the alumina passes from the feed hopper 1 through a pipe 15 directly into the feed pipe 10, and the screw 16 contained in pipe 10 acts at the same time as a thrust-screw and as a measuring device.
  • the screw 16 is driven by the motor 6 through a gear box 17.
  • the alumina passes from feed hopper 1 through a metering and dispensing screw 2 and a connecting duct 3 into a feed pipe 18 that traverses a number of points of the a bore of the electrode 11 but does not contain a pressure screw. Instead, the continuous feed pressure is applied by means of compressed air.
  • the compressed air passes through a regulating valve 20 into an inlet conduit 19 which terminates in a nozzle 21 within pipe 18 at a point above the alumina inlet opening.
  • any mechanical system may be used embodying the continuous introduction of alumina into the fused bath of an electrolytic aluminum cell under an external pressure overpowering the resistance of the bath against the entrance of the oxide. It has been ascertained in practice that the process according to the invention effectively reduces the consumption of energy and also improves current efiiciency, as the anodic effect is virtually suppressed. The substantial suppression of the anodic effect (for 24-48 hours or more) has the further advantage that the furnace can be run at constant power, that is with automatic voltage regulation.
  • the. process which comprises maintaining the bath at crust-forming temperature conditions, feeding a continuous column of alumina through a bath electrode into the bath, and imparting through the column of alumina a feed pressure upon the alumina-em trance place of the bath surface to thereby penetrate the crust.

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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)
  • Vertical, Hearth, Or Arc Furnaces (AREA)
US225482A 1959-04-24 1951-05-10 Process for the continuous feeding of electrolytic aluminum cells Expired - Lifetime US2713024A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT696459 1959-04-24

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2713024A true US2713024A (en) 1955-07-12

Family

ID=11122801

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US225482A Expired - Lifetime US2713024A (en) 1959-04-24 1951-05-10 Process for the continuous feeding of electrolytic aluminum cells
US23421A Expired - Lifetime US3186927A (en) 1959-04-24 1960-04-20 Process and apparatus for the continuous feeding of electrolytic aluminum cells

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US23421A Expired - Lifetime US3186927A (en) 1959-04-24 1960-04-20 Process and apparatus for the continuous feeding of electrolytic aluminum cells

Country Status (8)

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US (2) US2713024A (sv)
BE (2) BE590002R (sv)
CH (2) CH290658A (sv)
DE (2) DE895062C (sv)
ES (1) ES257576A2 (sv)
FR (2) FR1038711A (sv)
GB (2) GB716874A (sv)
NL (1) NL79897C (sv)

Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3006825A (en) * 1957-12-19 1961-10-31 Electrokemisk As Method of charging aluminium furnaces
US3016340A (en) * 1958-02-21 1962-01-09 Hygen Hans Fredrik Method in the electrolytical production of aluminum
US3090744A (en) * 1959-12-29 1963-05-21 Aluminium Ind Ag Electrolytic furnace for producing aluminum having a crust breaking apparatus
US3135672A (en) * 1959-01-16 1964-06-02 Nippon Light Metal Co Method for feeding alumina to electrolytic cell
US3186927A (en) * 1959-04-24 1965-06-01 Montedison Spa Process and apparatus for the continuous feeding of electrolytic aluminum cells
US3192140A (en) * 1960-06-27 1965-06-29 Montedison Spa Removal, by suction, of anodic gases formed in electrolytic cells employed for aluminum production
US3216918A (en) * 1959-09-03 1965-11-09 Pechiney Prod Chimiques Sa Machine for picking and distributing aluminum oxide into electrolytic cells
US3243364A (en) * 1966-03-29 Apparatus for treating waste gases in aluminum cells
US3322658A (en) * 1962-03-05 1967-05-30 Elektrokemisk As Aluminum electrolytic cell and method of use
US4111764A (en) * 1977-05-17 1978-09-05 Aluminum Company Of America Method for feeding a subliming material into a liquid
US4392926A (en) * 1980-05-30 1983-07-12 Showa Aluminum Industries K.K. Process and apparatus for production of aluminum
US4417958A (en) * 1980-09-09 1983-11-29 Swiss Aluminium Ltd. Process for extinguishing the anode effect in the aluminum electrolysis process
US5378326A (en) * 1993-06-11 1995-01-03 Kumera Oy Feeding method and device for aluminum electrolysis
US5405506A (en) * 1991-12-12 1995-04-11 Kumera Oy Apparatus and method for feeding raw material into an aluminum producing electrolysis
US5779875A (en) * 1995-12-13 1998-07-14 Jury Alexeevich Budaev Method for feeding loose material into an electrolyzer for production of aluminum
WO2000018987A1 (en) * 1998-09-14 2000-04-06 Norsk Hydro Asa A method and a device for feeding an electrolysis cell
US6837982B2 (en) 2002-01-25 2005-01-04 Northwest Aluminum Technologies Maintaining molten salt electrolyte concentration in aluminum-producing electrolytic cell
WO2006129267A2 (en) * 2005-06-02 2006-12-07 Moltech Invent S.A. Electrolytic cell with improved feed device
CN102251257A (zh) * 2011-01-17 2011-11-23 高德金 设置有氧化铝定型下料口的铝电解槽
CN105420759A (zh) * 2016-01-08 2016-03-23 湖南创元铝业有限公司 铝电解槽下料系统及铝电解槽系统
CN105506675A (zh) * 2016-01-28 2016-04-20 湖南创元铝业有限公司 氧化铝连续下料装置

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1383631A (fr) * 1963-03-04 1964-12-24 Alcan Aluminium Ltd Dispositif pour la manoeuvre de fours d'électrolyse de l'aluminium
US3317413A (en) * 1963-09-23 1967-05-02 Pechiney Cie De Produits Control of alumina content during igneous electrolysis
FR1526766A (fr) * 1963-09-24 1968-05-31 Pechiney Prod Chimiques Sa Machine automatique pour le piquage et l'alimentation des cuves d'électrolyse ignée
US3371026A (en) * 1964-02-04 1968-02-27 Reynolds Metals Co Electrolytic reduction cell with crustbreaking and ore feeding means
CH633048A5 (de) * 1977-06-28 1982-11-15 Alusuisse Verfahren und vorrichtung zur herstellung von aluminium.
CH644156A5 (de) * 1979-09-10 1984-07-13 Alusuisse Vorrichtung zur bedienung von elektrolyseoefen.

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR366523A (fr) * 1906-05-23 1906-10-05 The Roessler & Hasslacher Chemical C° Procédé de fusion des substances corrosives ou non corrosives
FR638836A (fr) * 1926-12-20 1928-06-04 Construgtions Metallurg Soc Et Dispositif assurant à la fois l'étanchéité de la pénétration d'une électrode à l'intérieur d'un four électrique et le chargement continu de ce four
US1837070A (en) * 1928-11-27 1931-12-15 Roth Ernst Apparatus for charging aluminum producing furnaces
US2045073A (en) * 1933-09-23 1936-06-23 Martha K Eldridge Aluminum furnace

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH144129A (de) * 1928-11-27 1930-12-15 Vaw Ver Aluminium Werke Ag Einrichtung zur Beschickung von Aluminium-Erzeugungsöfen.
FR681468A (fr) * 1928-12-06 1930-05-15 Procédé de réduction par chargement individuel des matières premières, et dispositif assurant l'automaticité de ce chargement
US1930195A (en) * 1930-07-31 1933-10-10 Aluminium Ind Ag Electrolytic aluminum reduction
DE744124C (de) * 1940-10-02 1944-01-10 Siemens Ag Transporteinrichtung zur Oberflaechenbehandlung, insbesondere fuer galvanische und elektrochemische Zwecke
US2426389A (en) * 1943-07-30 1947-08-26 Aluminum Co Of America Apparatus for recovering scrap metal
US2423787A (en) * 1944-11-01 1947-07-08 Aluminum Co Of America Crust breaking apparatus
NL79897C (sv) * 1959-04-24

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR366523A (fr) * 1906-05-23 1906-10-05 The Roessler & Hasslacher Chemical C° Procédé de fusion des substances corrosives ou non corrosives
FR638836A (fr) * 1926-12-20 1928-06-04 Construgtions Metallurg Soc Et Dispositif assurant à la fois l'étanchéité de la pénétration d'une électrode à l'intérieur d'un four électrique et le chargement continu de ce four
US1837070A (en) * 1928-11-27 1931-12-15 Roth Ernst Apparatus for charging aluminum producing furnaces
US2045073A (en) * 1933-09-23 1936-06-23 Martha K Eldridge Aluminum furnace

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3243364A (en) * 1966-03-29 Apparatus for treating waste gases in aluminum cells
US3006825A (en) * 1957-12-19 1961-10-31 Electrokemisk As Method of charging aluminium furnaces
US3016340A (en) * 1958-02-21 1962-01-09 Hygen Hans Fredrik Method in the electrolytical production of aluminum
US3135672A (en) * 1959-01-16 1964-06-02 Nippon Light Metal Co Method for feeding alumina to electrolytic cell
US3186927A (en) * 1959-04-24 1965-06-01 Montedison Spa Process and apparatus for the continuous feeding of electrolytic aluminum cells
US3216918A (en) * 1959-09-03 1965-11-09 Pechiney Prod Chimiques Sa Machine for picking and distributing aluminum oxide into electrolytic cells
US3090744A (en) * 1959-12-29 1963-05-21 Aluminium Ind Ag Electrolytic furnace for producing aluminum having a crust breaking apparatus
US3192140A (en) * 1960-06-27 1965-06-29 Montedison Spa Removal, by suction, of anodic gases formed in electrolytic cells employed for aluminum production
US3322658A (en) * 1962-03-05 1967-05-30 Elektrokemisk As Aluminum electrolytic cell and method of use
US4111764A (en) * 1977-05-17 1978-09-05 Aluminum Company Of America Method for feeding a subliming material into a liquid
US4392926A (en) * 1980-05-30 1983-07-12 Showa Aluminum Industries K.K. Process and apparatus for production of aluminum
US4417958A (en) * 1980-09-09 1983-11-29 Swiss Aluminium Ltd. Process for extinguishing the anode effect in the aluminum electrolysis process
US5405506A (en) * 1991-12-12 1995-04-11 Kumera Oy Apparatus and method for feeding raw material into an aluminum producing electrolysis
US5378326A (en) * 1993-06-11 1995-01-03 Kumera Oy Feeding method and device for aluminum electrolysis
US5779875A (en) * 1995-12-13 1998-07-14 Jury Alexeevich Budaev Method for feeding loose material into an electrolyzer for production of aluminum
WO2000018987A1 (en) * 1998-09-14 2000-04-06 Norsk Hydro Asa A method and a device for feeding an electrolysis cell
US6837982B2 (en) 2002-01-25 2005-01-04 Northwest Aluminum Technologies Maintaining molten salt electrolyte concentration in aluminum-producing electrolytic cell
WO2006129267A2 (en) * 2005-06-02 2006-12-07 Moltech Invent S.A. Electrolytic cell with improved feed device
WO2006129267A3 (en) * 2005-06-02 2007-03-29 Moltech Invent Sa Electrolytic cell with improved feed device
CN102251257A (zh) * 2011-01-17 2011-11-23 高德金 设置有氧化铝定型下料口的铝电解槽
CN105420759A (zh) * 2016-01-08 2016-03-23 湖南创元铝业有限公司 铝电解槽下料系统及铝电解槽系统
CN105506675A (zh) * 2016-01-28 2016-04-20 湖南创元铝业有限公司 氧化铝连续下料装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US3186927A (en) 1965-06-01
BE590002R (fr) 1960-10-24
GB926637A (en) 1963-05-22
CH290658A (de) 1953-05-15
GB716874A (en) 1954-10-13
FR77540E (fr) 1962-03-16
DE895062C (de) 1953-10-29
NL79897C (sv)
BE503570A (sv)
DE1137563B (de) 1962-10-04
ES257576A2 (es) 1960-12-16
CH378544A (fr) 1964-06-15
FR1038711A (fr) 1953-10-01

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