Aluminium Pechiney

Pierre Homsi

Benoit Sulmont

Jerome Bos

Olivier Bonnardel

Benoit Feve

Jacques Colin De Verdiere

Olivier Granacher

Jean-Marie Gaillard

An arrangement of electrolysis pots suitable for use for the production of aluminum by igneous electrolysis according to the Hall-H&eacute;roult process with an electrolysis current with intensity Io is disclosed. The arrangement comprises juxtaposed zones including an inner lateral zone. a central zone, and an outer lateral zone. The arrangement can be used, for example, in an electrolysis plant.

Electrolytic cell arrangement for production of aluminum

An electrolytic pot for the production of aluminum by the Hall-H&eacute;roult electrolysis process includes a cooling device for blowing air with localized jets, advantageously with variable flow, in order to evacuate and dissipate thermal energy from the pot. An aluminum production plant using the Hall-H&eacute;roult electrolysis process has at least some pots which, either individually or in common, include at least one cooling device.

Electrolytic pot for production of aluminum using the Hall-H&eacute;roult process comprising cooling means

A method for measuring temperature and electrolyte level of a molten electrolysis bath in a cell for production of aluminum by electrolysis of alumina includes the steps of: (a) piercing the crust of a solidified bath with a crust breaker and immersing into the electrolyte, an extremity of a temperature probe to a sufficient depth until an initial temperature reading of at least 850.degree. C. is measured, then maintaining the immersion of the probe, in said electrolyte for a length of time which is less than the time taken to establish the thermal equilibrium of the probe in the electrolyte, (b) withdrawing the probe and determining a temperature of the electrolyte by extrapolation of the temperature values measured by the probe, (c) measurement of the level of electrolyte in the cell by moving the lower extremity of the probe into contact with the electrolyte while recording potential signals between the cathodic substrate and the probe, and recording position signals corresponding to the position of the probe, and (d) determining the level of the electrolyte by comparison of recorded potential and position signals.

Method and device for measuring the temperature and the level of the

The process according to the invention solves the problem of the individual thermal regulation of electrolytic pots. It involves acting on the temperature of the pot by means of the setpoint resistance Ro which is modulated so as to correct the temperature both by anticipation and by reversed feedback. On the one hand, correction by anticipation, known as 'a priori' correction allows for known, quantified disturbances and allows their effect on the temperature of the pot to be compensated in advance. On the other hand, reversed feedback correction, known as 'a posteriori' correction, involves determining, from direct measurement at regular time intervals of the temperature of the electrolytic bath, a mean temperature corrected as a function of periodic operating procedures and allows the variations and deviations from the setpoint temperature to be compensated. The corrections are made by regular adjustment of a positive or negative so-called additional resistance value which is added to the setpoint resistance Ro of the pot. Correction reversed feedback preferably acts in such a way that, if the corrected mean temperature of the bath is lower than the setpoint temperature, this additional resistance is consequently increased, if the corrected mean temperature of the bath is falling, this additional resistance is also consequently increased, if this corrected mean temperature is higher than the set point temperature, this additional resistance is consequently reduced and if this corrected mean temperature is rising, this additional resistance is also consequently reduced.

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Saint Egreve, France

Pierre Homsi