Alcoa Inc.

Claude Gauthier

Graham E Homley

Gilles Dufour

Louise Pearson

Robin Boulianne

Marc Dupuis

Jacques Denis

Daniel Richard

Jean Pierre Gagné

Bertrand St-Laurent

Claude Fradet

Pierre Bouchard

Jacques Pelletier

Jean-Pierre Gagne

A spent anode is replaced with a new anode in an electrolysis cell having an anode bus bar and an anode rod contacting the bus bar. A desired distance (D) from the bus bar to a reference point on or adjacent to an anode rod for the new anode is calculated, the spent anode is replaced with a new anode so that the reference point on the new anode rod is spaced from the bus bar by an actual distance (D), and the actual distance (D) is measured at least once by means of a vision system. The actual distance (D) is preferably adjusted using a feedback control loop in a computer so that Dapproaches the desired distance (D).

Process and apparatus for positioning replacement anodes in electrolytic cells

An electrolytic cell for aluminum production, including a cell wall, a bus bar, a carbonaceous cathode block, and a collector bar connecting the bus bar with the cathode block. The collector bar comprises a ferrous metal body including a solid spacer and a sheath defining a cavity containing a copper insert. The spacer has an external end portion connected with the bus bar and an internal end portion that is preferably spaced inwardly of the cell wall. The spacer separates the copper insert from the bus bar, thereby reducing heat loss from the cell.

Cathode collector bar with spacer for improved heat balance and method

A cathode assembly for use in a Hall-Heroult electrolytic cell, the assembly including a cathode block which receives two primary cathode collector bars and one secondary cathode collector bar disposed therebetween. The primary collector bars each have an electrical interface with the cathode block which is sized to be equal to or greater than an electrical interface between the secondary collector bar and the cathode block. The primary collector bars are electrically connected to the cathode block only along an interior portion of the cathode block and the secondary collector bar is fully connected to the cathode block. This arrangement improves current distribution through the cathode assembly by minimizing the amount of current passing through the ends of the cathode block.

3 component cathode collector bar

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Sainte-Foy, Canada

Claude Gauthier