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.

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.

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.

An aluminum electrolytic bath having continuous aluminum-frame anode with built-in conductors, solving the problems of the existing aluminum electrolytic baths, such as poor electrical and thermal conductivity and exhausting capability, high energy consumption, complex operation, poor electrolytic bath stability, large amount of asphalt fumes and the difficulties in collecting the same and in electrolytic fume purification, few variety and poor quality of produced products, and influence on integrity of the anode, includes an aluminum-frame anode and a cathode. The disclosure greatly reduces power consumption and improves current efficiency, the stability and yield of the electrolytic bath.

An aluminum electrolytic bath having continuous aluminum-frame anode with built-in conductors, solving the problems of the existing aluminum electrolytic baths, such as poor electrical and thermal conductivity and exhausting capability, high energy consumption, complex operation, poor electrolytic bath stability, large amount of asphalt fumes and the difficulties in collecting the same and in electrolytic fume purification, few variety and poor quality of produced products, and influence on integrity of the anode, includes an aluminum-frame anode and a cathode. The disclosure greatly reduces power consumption and improves current efficiency, the stability and yield of the electrolytic bath.

An anode assembly for an aluminum electrolysis cell is provided. The anode assembly includes a baked anode block, a plurality of elongated connection elements each having an anode block contact surface and an electrical connection surface, at least one electromechanical crossbar connector covering the electrical connection surfaces of the elongated connection elements, and a crossbar electrically connected to the elongated connection elements. A method for manufacturing an anode assembly for an aluminum electrolysis cell is also provided. The method includes the steps of forming a block of green anode paste, inserting a plurality of elongated connection elements in the green anode paste, baking the green anode, positioning a crossbar above the electrical connection surfaces of the plurality of elongated connection elements, and covering the electrical connection surfaces and at least partially the crossbar with a surface-conforming electrically-conductive material.

An anode assembly for an aluminum electrolysis cell is provided. The anode assembly includes a baked anode block, a plurality of elongated connection elements each having an anode block contact surface and an electrical connection surface, at least one electromechanical crossbar connector covering the electrical connection surfaces of the elongated connection elements, and a crossbar electrically connected to the elongated connection elements. A method for manufacturing an anode assembly for an aluminum electrolysis cell is also provided. The method includes the steps of forming a block of green anode paste, inserting a plurality of elongated connection elements in the green anode paste, baking the green anode, positioning a crossbar above the electrical connection surfaces of the plurality of elongated connection elements, and covering the electrical connection surfaces and at least partially the crossbar with a surface-conforming electrically-conductive material.

A flexible electrical connector assembly is adapted to connect a bus bar of an electrolytic cell to a collector bar of the electrolytic cell. The assembly includes an electrical connector including a plurality of conductive metal sheets, the electrical connector having a collector bar end and a bus bar end. The electrical connector may be adapted for being joined, at the collector bar end, to the collector bar and, at the bus bar end, to the bus bar. The electrical connector may be adapted to implement a change in direction, at a bend along a current-carrying path between the bus bar end and the collector bar end, the bend assisting to define the change in direction as greater than 90 degrees.

A flexible electrical connector assembly is adapted to connect a bus bar of an electrolytic cell to a collector bar of the electrolytic cell. The assembly includes an electrical connector including a plurality of conductive metal sheets, the electrical connector having a collector bar end and a bus bar end. The electrical connector may be adapted for being joined, at the collector bar end, to the collector bar and, at the bus bar end, to the bus bar. The electrical connector may be adapted to implement a change in direction, at a bend along a current-carrying path between the bus bar end and the collector bar end, the bend assisting to define the change in direction as greater than 90 degrees.

A cathode element (1) for an electrolysis cell of Hall-Heroult type for producing aluminium, comprises a body (4) of calcinated carbonaceous material connected with the upper side of a metallic collector plate (2). A space between the said carbonaceous body and the collector plate being filled with an electric conductive material preferably comprising conductive particles. The collector plate (2) further can comprise at least one horizontal outlet (5, 5) on at least one side and/or at least one vertical metallic current outlet (7) connected to the lower side of the collector plate (2). In one embodiment the collector plate is divided in two sections (20; 20). The invention also relates to a cell of Hall-Heroult type utilizing such cathode elements (1).