US4443314A — Anode assembly for molten salt electrolysis

Claim 1

Independent Claim 70 words

A cermet anode connector for use in an electrolytic cell for molten salt electrolysis wherein the anode is selected from the group consisting of cermets and ceramics, said connector having a lower electrical resistivity than said anode at the operating temperature of said cell and no higher than 1×10 -3 Ω-cm, said connector comprising at least 31% by volume of metal and no more than 69% by vol. of ceramic.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 70 words

A cermet anode connector for use in an electrolytic cell for molten salt electrolysis wherein the anode is selected from the group consisting of cermets and ceramics, said connector having a lower electrical resistivity than said anode at the operating temperature of said cell and no higher than 1×10 -3 Ω-cm, said connector comprising at least 31% by volume of metal and no more than 69% by vol. of ceramic.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

The connector of claim 1 joined to a hollow anode by a threaded joint in the interior of said anode in a region of high temperature.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 38 words

The connector of claim 1 produced by the process of molding a cermet at 5 to 30×10 7 Pa, calcining said cermet at 800°-1100° C., machining said cermet, and sintering said cermet at a temperature above 1100° C.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 91 words

The connector of claim 1 comprising from 31% to 50% by volume nickel metal and from 50% to 69% by volume manganese zinc ferrite made by the process of blending the metal and ferrite, molding the metal and ferrite at from 69 to 138×10 6 Pa, to form a part, calcining the molded part at about 800° to 1100° C., machining the part to a final shape, and sintering the part at a temperature above about 1100° C. effective to produce a connector with no more than 8% by volume porosity.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 98 words

An anode assembly in a cell for the electrolysis of molten salts comprising a non-consumable anode selected from the group consisting of cermets and ceramics and a cermet connector comprising at least 31% by vol. metal and up to 69% by vol. ceramic oxide and having a resistivity at the operating temperature of said cell lower than said anode and no more than 1×10 -3 Ω-cm from said anode to a current source, said anode being joined to said connector in an area of high temperature in the interior of said anode when said cell is in operation.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 98 words

An anode assembly in a cell for the electrolysis of molten salts comprising a non-consumable anode selected from the group consisting of cermets and ceramics and a cermet connector comprising at least 31% by vol. metal and up to 69% by vol. ceramic oxide and having a resistivity at the operating temperature of said cell lower than said anode and no more than 1×10 -3 Ω-cm from said anode to a current source, said anode being joined to said connector in an area of high temperature in the interior of said anode when said cell is in operation.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 24 words

The anode assembly of claim 5 wherein the connector is an externally threaded male article joined to an internally threaded socket in said anode.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 34 words

The anode assembly of claim 5 wherein the anode is supported by mechanical support means separate from the electrical connector and engaging one or more matching grooves in the interior surface of said anode.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 57 words

The anode and connector of claim 5 produced by the process of forming the articles by cold pressing at approximately 5 to 30×10 7 Pa, calcination at an intermediate temperature of 800° to 1100° C., cooling, machining, and sintering at a higher temperature above 1100° C. effective to form said articles with no more than 8% porosity.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 88 words

The connector of claim 5 produced by the process of molding a mixture of from 31 to 50% by volume Ni metal and from 50% to 69% by volume MnZn ferrite by isostatic pressing at a pressure from 69 to 138×10 6 Pa to form said connector, calcining said connector at a temperature from 800° to 1100° C., cooling said connector, machining said connector, and sintering said connector at a temperature above about 1100° C. effective to produce said connector having no more than 8 vol. % porosity.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 134 words

A Hall-Heroult cell for the production of aluminum by electrolysis comprising an electrically conductive non-consumable hollow anode and a connector for said anode produced by the process of pressing cermet-forming powders at 69 to 138×10 6 Pa, to form shaped articles, calcining said articles at 800° to 1100° C., cooling said articles, machining said articles, and sintering said articles at approximately 1225° C., said connector consisting of a cermet comprising at least 31% by volume Ni and not more than 69% by volume MnZn ferrite and having a resistivity lower than said anode of not more than 1×10 -3 Ω-cm at the operating temperature of said cell, wherein the connection between said anode and connector is made in a region of high temperature in the interior of said anode when said cell is operating.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 134 words

A Hall-Heroult cell for the production of aluminum by electrolysis comprising an electrically conductive non-consumable hollow anode and a connector for said anode produced by the process of pressing cermet-forming powders at 69 to 138×10 6 Pa, to form shaped articles, calcining said articles at 800° to 1100° C., cooling said articles, machining said articles, and sintering said articles at approximately 1225° C., said connector consisting of a cermet comprising at least 31% by volume Ni and not more than 69% by volume MnZn ferrite and having a resistivity lower than said anode of not more than 1×10 -3 Ω-cm at the operating temperature of said cell, wherein the connection between said anode and connector is made in a region of high temperature in the interior of said anode when said cell is operating.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1987-04-17	1987-10-17	1988-04-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1991-04-17	1991-10-17	1992-04-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1995-04-17	1995-10-17	1996-04-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Anode assembly for molten salt electrolysis

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