Abstract

A system for jacking anodes through a cassette means (1, 3A) for supporting the anodes in an electrolytic cell (32), the cassette means (1, 3A) having anode contact means associated with the cassette (1, 3A) for engaging contact surfaces of the anodes, the jacking system comprising a frame (41) for supporting jacking means (46, 47) for engagement with the anodes (1A, 2A) or (2, 3) the frame (41) including means for releasably attaching the frame (41) to a superstructure of the cell and further means to support at least some of the contact means as the jacking rheans (46, 47) operates to push the anodes (1A, 2A) or (2, 3) through the cassette.

IPC Classes  ?

• C25C 3/08 - Cell construction, e.g. bottoms, walls, cathodes

Abstract

A cassette for supporting rodless anodes in an electrolytic cell and for providing electrical contact between the anodes and the cassette, the cassette including a force containment member substantially surrounding the anodes and associated electrically conductive members having surfaces formed to conductively contact electrical contact surfaces on the anodes, force applying means associated with the cassette for applying forces which force the electrical contact surfaces of the anodes into electrical contact with the surfaces of the electrically conductive members associated with the cassette, the respective electrical contact surfaces being complementary.

IPC Classes  ?

• C25C 3/12 - Anodes
• C25C 3/10 - External supporting frames or structures
• C25C 7/02 - ElectrodesConnections thereof

Abstract

An electrical contact system for a rodless or continuous pre-baked anode (3, 4) and an electrical contact means (12, 14) for an electrolytic cell, comprising a plurality of co-operating formations (13) in the anode and in the electrical contact means, said co-operating formations (13) extending in the direction of feeding of the anodes in the cell, and being formed with contact surfaces (16) having an increasing distance of separation in a direction perpendicular to and towards a face of the anode to increase the contact pressure between the shaped formations (13) on the electrical contact means and the anode as clamping forces are applied between the contact means and the anode.

IPC Classes  ?

• C25C 7/02 - ElectrodesConnections thereof
• C25C 3/12 - Anodes
• C25C 7/00 - Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cellsServicing or operating of cells

Abstract

A continuous pre-baked or rodless anode assembly 1 for an aluminium smelting cell, comprising one or more pre-baked anodes (2, 3, 4) arranged in a cassette to have two exposed end faces, electrical contact means (5, 6, 7) at the exposed end faces of the anode(s), and between the anodes in the case of multiple anodes in the cassette, the cassette including clamping force applying means including elongate clamping means (9) and tensioning means (10), said elongate clamping means transferring tensioning forces applied by said tensioning means as a clamping force to the electrical contact means (5, 6, 7) at the exposed end faces of the anodes, to hold the one or more anodes in the cassette, and to keep the electrical contact means (5, 6, 7) in electrical contact with the one or more anodes.

IPC Classes  ?

• C25C 3/06 - Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts of aluminium
• C25C 3/12 - Anodes
• C25C 7/02 - ElectrodesConnections thereof
• C22B 21/00 - Obtaining aluminium
• C25C 3/16 - Electric current supply devices, e.g. bus bars
• C25C 1/02 - Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of solutions of light metals
• C25C 7/00 - Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cellsServicing or operating of cells

Abstract

A rodless anode block is described having a current receiving face for engagement with a fixed conductor. The current receiving face includes an array of vertically spaced recesses, at least a portion of which contain an electrical resistance reducing contact material comprising aluminium or aluminium alloy. The contact material is disposed in the recesses so as to define with the current receiving face a substantially smooth surface over which the fixed conductor can slide when in engagement therewith. Also described is a method of operating an aluminium reduction cell comprising the rodless anode block of the invention displaceably supported in the cell.

IPC Classes  ?

• C25C 3/00 - Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts
• C25C 3/06 - Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts of aluminium
• C25C 3/12 - Anodes
• C22B 21/00 - Obtaining aluminium
• C25C 3/08 - Cell construction, e.g. bottoms, walls, cathodes
• C25C 3/16 - Electric current supply devices, e.g. bus bars

Abstract

A method of operating an aluminium reduction cell including a rodless anode block is described. The method includes supplying aluminium or an aluminium alloy in a solid or molten state to adjacent an interface between a current receiving face of the anode block and a fixed conductor. During operation of the cell, the softened or molten aluminium or aluminium alloy is drawn between the current receiving face of the rodless anode block and the fixed conductor to act as an electrical resistance reducing contact material between the two.

IPC Classes  ?

• C25C 3/06 - Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts of aluminium
• C25C 7/00 - Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cellsServicing or operating of cells