Alcan International Limited

Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited

Jean-François Bilodeau

Ghyslain Dube

Claude Dupuis

Sebastien Fafard

Denis Laroche

Andre Gendron

Laszlo Istvan Kiss

Carl Lakroni

Luc Belley

Laurent Fiot

Sébastien Becasse

Steve Langlois

Serge Munger

André Gendron

Anode assembly () comprising an anode () and an anode support () for the production of aluminum, characterized in that the anode assembly () comprises an electrical connecting element () to electrically connect the anode support () with the anode (), and at least one thermally insulating element () arranged to reduce heat transfer between the anode () and the anode support () during the production of aluminum.

Anode assembly

A method is described for priming an in-line molten metal filtration unit having a porous ceramic or refractory filter mounted substantially horizontally in a filter box. This filter box has an inlet for molten metal and an outlet for molten metal, the outlet being a closeable outlet in an exit well connecting to the downstream side of the filter. The method of the invention comprises the steps of adding a molten metal to the filter box sufficient to entirely cover the upstream side of the filter with a depth of molten metal and temporarily sealing the outlet in the exit well. A steadily increasing vacuum is then applied to the closed exit well at a rate between 0.1 and 10 kPa per second by withdrawing a stream of air from the exit well by means of a fan or air venturi until molten metal begins to flow through the filter. At that point the vacuum is quickly released and the molten metal outlet is opened. Once the filter has been primed in this manner, flow of metal through the filter continues while requiring only a relatively low head of molten metal on the inlet side of the filter.

Method of priming filter for molten metal

An apparatus is provided for the treatment of molten metal, e.g. aluminum, with a particulate treatment agent and a gas. This includes a vessel for holding molten metal, a rotary device for breaking up particulate treatment agent and gas within the molten metal and for dispersing particulate treatment agent and gas within the molten metal contained in the vessel and means for supplying the particulate treatment agent and gas to the rotary device. The rotary device includes a hollow shaft having a rotor with an axial opening fixed to the discharge end of the shaft, this rotor being in the form of an annular plate with a plurality of radially mounted upwardly directed blades projecting from the top face of the annular plate and a plurality of radially mounted downwardly directed blades projecting from the bottom face of the annular plate.

Process and apparatus for adding particulate solid material to molten metal

A process is described for treating molten metal with a particulate treating agent. A melt of a metal, e.g. aluminum, is provided in a treatment vessel such as a ladle and a mixing impeller is positioned substantially below the surface of the molten metal. The impeller comprises a plate with a series of spaced blades extending from the surface of the plate. This impeller is adapted to provide high shear mixing with minimum vortex. While rotating the impeller on a substantially vertical axis, particulate treating agent is fed by way of an injection tube below the surface of the molten metal and into the region between the axis and periphery of the impeller. This causes a high shearing action in the region of the blades whereby the treating agent is quickly broken down into finely divided droplets that are at least partially molten and which are circulated within the molten metal.

Process for cleaning and purifying molten aluminum

Process and apparatus for cleaning and purifying molten aluminum

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Jonquière, Canada

Jean-François Bilodeau