The invention relates to an electrolytic cell (1) for the production of aluminium (2) including collector bars structure modifications (13,14,15,16) under the cathode (4), namely a copper collector bar held in a U-shaped profile or directly embedded into the cathode. This leads to an optimized current distribution in the liquid aluminium metal (2) and/or inside the carbon cathode allowing for operating the cell at lower voltage. The lower voltage results from either a lower anode to cathode distance (ACD), and/or to lower voltage drop inside the carbon cathode from liquid metal to the end of the collector bar.

Disclosed is a cathode block having a slot geometry, said carbon-based cathode block for an electrolysis cell for the production of aluminium being provided with at least one slot for accommodating at least one cathode bar, said at least one slot having at least one cavity, at least some sections of which extend in the longitudinal direction of the slot and which includes at least one undercut.

Disclosed is a cathode block having a slot geometry, said carbon-based cathode block for an electrolysis cell for the production of aluminium being provided with at least one slot for accommodating at least one cathode bar, said at least one slot having at least one cavity, at least some sections of which extend in the longitudinal direction of the slot and which includes at least one undercut.

In some embodiments, an electrolytic cell includes: an one anode module having a plurality of anodes; a one cathode module, opposing the anode module, and comprising a plurality of vertical cathodes, wherein each of the plurality of anodes and each of the plurality of vertical cathodes are vertically oriented and spaced one from another; a cell reservoir; and a cell bottom supporting the cathode module, wherein the cell bottom comprise an first upper surface, a second upper surface, and a channel, wherein the plurality of vertical cathodes extends upward from the upper surfaces, wherein at least one cathode block is located below the plurality of vertical cathodes, wherein the first upper surface and the second upper surface are configured to direct substantially all of the liquid aluminum produced in the electrolytic cell to the channel, and wherein the channel is configured to receive liquid aluminum from the upper surfaces.

In some embodiments, an electrolytic cell includes: an one anode module having a plurality of anodes; a one cathode module, opposing the anode module, and comprising a plurality of vertical cathodes, wherein each of the plurality of anodes and each of the plurality of vertical cathodes are vertically oriented and spaced one from another; a cell reservoir; and a cell bottom supporting the cathode module, wherein the cell bottom comprise an first upper surface, a second upper surface, and a channel, wherein the plurality of vertical cathodes extends upward from the upper surfaces, wherein at least one cathode block is located below the plurality of vertical cathodes, wherein the first upper surface and the second upper surface are configured to direct substantially all of the liquid aluminum produced in the electrolytic cell to the channel, and wherein the channel is configured to receive liquid aluminum from the upper surfaces.

A cathode assembly for an electrolytic cell including a cathode block having a second surface and a first surface. The cathode block also including at least one sealing groove opening onto its first surface and a plurality of electrical contact plugs mounted in electrical contact with the first surface of the cathode block. The cathode assembly includes at least one current supply plate in electrical contact with at least one electrical contact plug, and is connected to at least one unit for connection to an electric current source. The cathode assembly includes at least one current supply bar having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially identical to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the current supply plate and is sealed within the at least one sealing groove while being fastened to at least one current supply plate.

A cathode assembly for an electrolytic cell including a cathode block having a second surface and a first surface. The cathode block also including at least one sealing groove opening onto its first surface and a plurality of electrical contact plugs mounted in electrical contact with the first surface of the cathode block. The cathode assembly includes at least one current supply plate in electrical contact with at least one electrical contact plug, and is connected to at least one unit for connection to an electric current source. The cathode assembly includes at least one current supply bar having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially identical to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the current supply plate and is sealed within the at least one sealing groove while being fastened to at least one current supply plate.

A method for detecting a thermite reaction in an electrolytic cell comprising an anode assembly of one or more metal-oxide-containing anodes is disclosed. Each anode assembly is powered by a current provided through a distinct anode rod for each anode assembly. The method comprises: measuring a voltage drop using a pair of voltage probes located on the anode rod, the voltage drop corresponding to a current flow in the anode assembly; processing the voltage drop by computing at least one of the voltage drop derivative, the voltage drop variance, and the derivative of the voltage drop variance; and detecting a thermite reaction based on the results of the signal processing, before mitigating and/or suppressing the thermite reaction by adjusting the operational parameters of the electrolytic cell. This method is particularly advantageous as it reduces the number of voltage drops necessary for detecting a thermite reaction by a factor of 10.

A method for detecting a thermite reaction in an electrolytic cell comprising an anode assembly of one or more metal-oxide-containing anodes is disclosed. Each anode assembly is powered by a current provided through a distinct anode rod for each anode assembly. The method comprises: measuring a voltage drop using a pair of voltage probes located on the anode rod, the voltage drop corresponding to a current flow in the anode assembly; processing the voltage drop by computing at least one of the voltage drop derivative, the voltage drop variance, and the derivative of the voltage drop variance; and detecting a thermite reaction based on the results of the signal processing, before mitigating and/or suppressing the thermite reaction by adjusting the operational parameters of the electrolytic cell. This method is particularly advantageous as it reduces the number of voltage drops necessary for detecting a thermite reaction by a factor of 10.

An electrolytic cell for the production of aluminium including collector bars under the cathode, namely a copper collector bar whose external terminal end is connected by a conductor element providing electrical connection of the collector bar to an external bus. This conductor element comprises a flexible connector strip of the same or a different highly conductive metal as the conductor bar, such as copper.