US3607685A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Aluminum reduction cell and system for energy conservation therein
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-08-21
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Granted: 1971-09-21
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Expires: 1988-08-21
Abstract
Abstract A compact electrolytic potcell for the reduction of aluminum in fluoride fusions including a multiplicity of spaced and sized electrical conductors extending from the reduced aluminum pad underlying the fluoride fusion, through the refractory potlining, and to an aluminum slab heat-sink on the potshell, the conductors being molten where in contact with the pad and solid where in contact with the aluminum slab and the temperature and voltage difference of the slab relative to the pad being adjusted to as low as feasible with cell operation to conserve energy for reduction.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur F Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 00:56
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25C; C25C3/00; C25C3/06; C25C3/08; C25C3/085
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
17 words
A cell as defined in claim 1 which comprises aluminum conductors encased in an electrically nonconductive refractory.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cell as defined in claim 1 wherein said refractory potlining consists essentially of hard, impervious, electrically nonconductive, fused refractory.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A cell as defined in claim 3 wherein said refractory potlining is formed of at least one of the materials alumina, calcium fluoride, calcium oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum fluoride, sodium oxide and mixtures thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A cell as defined in claim 4 in which the refractory is formed essentially of a fusion of at least one of the materials dross, bauxite, fluorspar, limestone and mixtures thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A cell as defined in claim 1 wherein the cathode heat-sink constituted at least part of the bottom of the potshell to which the aluminum conductors are attached.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
A cell as defined in claim 6 which comprises aluminum side and end walls which are contiguous with the bottom slab and form a part of the heat-sink the aluminum of the heat-sink being of such mass as to freeze any of the fusion which may penetrate the potlIning refractory adjacent the potshell covered by the aluminum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cell as defined in claim 6 in which the heat-sink is insulated to suppress the heat flow into it and has baffles restricting atmospheric convection and heat insulation exterior to the potshell.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
A cell as defined in claim 7 in which the aluminum slab averages at least 1 inch in thickness and covers at least most parts of sides and ends and bottom so as to carry higher temperature heat in the refractory enclosing the sides of the fluoride fusion to lower temperature slab areas when they exist.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cell as defined in claim 7 in which the entire potshell is essentially aluminum and only such steel as needed for reinforcement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cell as defined in claim 1 in which the current density carried in the aluminum conductors averages between 200 and 1,000 amperes per square inch of cross section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cell as defined in claim 1 in which the cross section of an aluminum conductor averages between 0.25 and 2 square inches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cell as defined in claim 1 in which the conductors are essentially located in areas of the pad beneath the anode areas and depend downward therefrom.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cell as defined in claim 1 in which the number of conductors averages at least 1 for every 2 square feet of anode area.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cell of claim 1 in which the heat-sink is protected against the attack of molten material in the cell by a thin, adherent refractory coating.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
109 words
In a cell for the electrolytic reduction of aluminum from fluoride fusions having an exterior metal potshell and a bottom, a lining within the potshell for containing a reduced aluminum pad and the fluoride fusion, the improvement which comprises a first refractory lining in contact with the pad and fluoride fusion which is hard, impervious and electrically nonconductive, a second layer of heat insulating refractory underlying said first refractory lining and overlying the cell bottom, a slab of aluminum in contact with the cell bottom, and a multiplicity of spaced and sized aluminum conductors in contact with the pad which pass through both refractories and engage the aluminum slab.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
In a cell as defined in claim 16 in which the slab is in contact with aluminum side and end portions adjacent the areas of the shell sides and ends, and means for restricting the escape of heat from the aluminum slab.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
68 words
In the reduction of aluminum by electrolysis of a fluoride fusion overlying a reduced aluminum pad wherein cathode current is withdrawn in a multiplicity of conductors in contact with the pad and terminating in an aluminum slab heat-sink the improved process which comprises restricting the escape of heat from the heat-sink sufficiently that there is less than 20 kilowatts of heat removed from the pad by the conductors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of operating the cell of claim 1 in which the voltage difference between the aluminum slab and the pad is less than 0.2 volt.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of operating the cell of claim 1 in which the temperature of the heat-sink in at least some parts exceeds 200* C.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of operating the cell claim 1 in which at least part of the heat from the heat-sink is utilized to evaporate water into steam.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
78 words
The combination of cells for the type defined in claim 1 which comprises at least two cells arranged side-by-side the longitudinal sides of which are close together, each cell having a plurality of anodes transversally spanning the cell and being supported on means providing upward and downward movement whereby each anode is adjustable to unify current distribution, and a separate flexible bus connecting the cathode heat-sink of one cell to the nearest anodes transversally spanning the next cell.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-20 | 1975-03-22 | 1975-09-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-20 | 1979-03-22 | 1979-09-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-20 | 1983-03-22 | 1983-09-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |