Aluminum Company of America

Alcoa Inc.

Alcoa USA Corp.

Gary P Tarcy

Xiangwen Wang

Robert B Hosler

Jay N Bruggeman

Michael Lewis Slaugenhaupt

Ron D Barclay

LeRoy E Dastolfo, Jr

Thomas M Gavasto

Eliezer Batista

Robert Hosler

Siba P Ray

Susanne Marie Opalka

Neal Richard Dando

Perry A Foster, Jr

Craig L Jensen

Rebecca K Wyss

Don R Careatti

Charles W Bartges

Robert W Hyland, Jr

T David Burleigh

Robert M Mazgaj

K Dean Vinnedge

William P Wehrle

Mark E Davis

Jayson Tessier

Dennis R De Capite

Troy C Skeen

Stephen E Baumann

Stephen J Lindsay

System, method and apparatus for measuring electrolysis cell operating conditions and communicating the same are disclosed. The system includes a selectively positionable member coupled to an analytical apparatus, wherein the selectively positionable is configured to move the analytical apparatus into and out of physical communication with a bath. The system may also include a crust breaker for breaking the surface of a bath and an electronic device for measuring bath level.

System, method and apparatus for measuring electrolysis cell operating conditions and communicating the same

Systems, methods and apparatus relating to evaluation of alumina feedstocks are disclosed. A system may include an alumina storage unit comprising an alumina feedstock, an alumina supply member in communication with the alumina storage unit and an aluminum electrolysis cell. The alumina feedstock of the alumina storage unit may periodically flow through the alumina supply member and to the aluminum electrolysis cell. A measurement device may be in communication with the alumina supply member, and may be configured to measure a supply member property and transmit a first signal to a processor. The processor may be configured to receive the first signal and produce supply member property data based, at least in part, on the first signal.

Systems and methods for determining alumina properties

Systems, methods and apparatus for reducing impurities in electrolysis cells are disclosed. In one approach, a method includes feeding a particulate fines feed stream to a tank, mixing particulate fines (PF) with liquid, the liquid having a first liquid and a second liquid, and separating at least some of the first liquid from at least some of the second liquid. The particulate fines (PF) may include inlet carbon fines (CF) and inlet recyclable fines (RF). The first liquid may include a recovered recyclable fines portion (RF), and the second liquid may include a waste carbon fines portion (CF). The mass ratio of the recovered recyclable fines portion (RF) to the inlet recyclable fines (RF) may be at least about 0.5. The mass ratio of the waste carbon fines portion (CF) to the inlet carbon fines (CF) may be at least about 0.1.

Systems, method and apparatus for reducing impurities in electrolysis cells

System and method for measuring alumina qualities and communicating the same are disclosed. In one example, a system includes an aluminum electrolysis cell, a feeder configured to supply a feed stock using a feed stream to the aluminum electrolysis cell, and a measurement device in communication with the feed stream, the measurement device adaptable to receive, release, and determine at least one attribute associated with the feed stock.

System and method for measuring alumina qualities and communicating the same

An electrolysis cell () contains a number of carbon anodes () having top, bottom and side surfaces, operating in molten electrolyte () in an aluminum electrolysis cell (), where gas bubbles () are generated at the anode surfaces and where alumina particles () are added to the top of the molten electrolyte, where the carbon anodes () have at least two inward slots () passing through the carbon anode () along the longitudinal axisof the carbon anode and also passing through only one front surface () of the carbon anode, where the height () of the slots () is from about 45% to 80% of the anodes thickness and the slotted front surfaces () are disposed toward the center of the electrolysis cell so that generated gas bubbles () are directed to the alumina particles.

Method for electrolytically producing aluminum using closed end slotted carbon anodes

An electrolysis cell () contains a number of carbon anodes () having top, bottom and side surfaces, operating in molten electrolyte () in an aluminum electrolysis cell (), where gas bubbles () are generated at the anode surfaces and where alumina particles () are added to the top of the molten electrolyte, where the carbon anodes () have one inward slot () passing through the carbon anode () along the longitudinal axisof the carbon anode and also passing through only one front surface () of the carbon anode, where the height () of the slot () is from about 45% to 80% of the anodes thickness and the slotted front surfaces () are disposed toward the center of the electrolysis cell so that generated gas bubbles () are directed to the alumina particles.

Closed end slotted carbon anodes for aluminum electrolysis cells

Methods and systems for controlling operating conditions of electrolytic cells are provided, particularly aluminum electrolytic cells. The method may includes the steps of measuring offgas temperature from the electrolytic cell, comparing the measured offgas temperature to a target offgas temperature, and completing a predetermined action in response to the comparing step. The predetermined action may include one or more of changing a feed rate of feed materials supplied to the electrolytic cell or inspecting a crust of the electrolytic cell for an undesired condition, such as a crust hole. The system may include an electrolytic cell adapted to contain a molten metal mixture, a hopper adapted to provide feed material to the electrolytic cell, a hood adapted to contain offgas from the electrolytic cell, an exhaust duct interconnected to the hood and containing a thermocouple for measuring offgas temperature, and a control panel for receiving temperature measurements from the thermocouple.

Measuring duct offgas temperatures to improve electrolytic cell energy efficiency

A cermet inert anode having a reduced level of contaminating surface metal is disclosed. Methods for preparing cermet inert anodes and methods for treating cermet inert anodes are also disclosed. The methods generally use an oxidizing agent to convert metals on the surface of the anode to inert oxides and/or to otherwise remove the metal contaminants. The inert anodes of the present invention may be used in electrolytic reduction cells for the production of commercial purity aluminum, as well as other metals.

Chemical milling process for inert anodes

A method of making a light metal-rare earth metal alloy includes mixing a light metal powder, such as aluminum powder, with a finely divided rare earth metal-containing compound, such as scandium oxide, creating a billet by subjecting the mixture to cold isostatic compaction. The billet formed from the mixture of aluminum powder and rare earth metal-containing compound is preferably sintered at a temperature of about 600.degree. C. to 800.degree. C. and preferably about 640.degree. C. to 680.degree. C., and subsequently feeding the billet to a molten aluminum bath. This method facilitates conversion of in excess of 95% of the rare earth metal oxide to the aluminum-rare earth metal alloy. The rare earth metal may be scandium.

Method for making a light metal-rare earth metal alloy

A novel aluminum-lithium negative electrode and method for making such a novel aluminum-lithium negative electrode, including providing an admixture of aluminum powder and lithium halide electrolyte salts to form an aluminum lithium halide mixture, pressing the aluminum lithium halide mixture to form an aluminum lithium halide mixture negative electrode, placing the aluminum lithium halide mixture negative electrode next to a separate electrode composed of MgO and lithium halide electrolyte salts, providing a positive electrode of iron sulfide, lithium carbonate, and carbon, assembling the electrodes into a battery, and reacting lithium carbonate, carbon, and aluminum in situ in the battery to form an aluminum-lithium alloy negative electrode.

Form charging aluminum-lithium battery cells

There is disclosed an improved memory disk stock comprised of an alloy composition which includes: about 1-11 wt. % magnesium, preferably between about 2-7 wt. % Mg; up to about 0.3 wt. % zirconium preferably about 0.02-0.25 wt. % Zr; up to about 0.2 wt. % iron, up to about 0.2 wt. % silicon, and about 0.02-0.2 wt. % of a dispersoid-forming element selected from scandium, erbium, thulium, lutetium, ytterbium, hafnium and yttrium, the balance aluminum and incidental elements and impurities. With preferably about 0.05-0.15 wt. % of scandium added to such compositions, these disk stocks exhibit significant room temperature yield strength increases over the same compositions without any scandium added.

Memory disk sheet stock and method

A substantially nitrate-free solution for milling products of refractory metals, especially titanium, which milling solution comprises: (a) about 20-100 g/l hydrofluoric acid; (b) a hydrogen inhibitor selected from the group comprising of: about 55-650 g/l of sodium chlorate, about 180-650 g/l of ammonium peroxysulfate, and at least about 10 g/l of hydrogen peroxide; and (c) a balance of water and impurities. A method for chemically milling, etching and/or pickling metal products, such as titanium alloy forgings, with the aforementioned solution is also disclosed.

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Murrysville, PA, United States of America

Gary P Tarcy