A method for optimizing stability in an electrolysis cell of the Hall-Hroult type where the cell has suspended prebaked anodes and a cathode panel. The panel comprises several cathode blocks or cathode block sections. A metal pad and an electrolytic bath are located between said anodes and the cathode panel. The force field acting on the metal pad is calculated and monitored in a computer based model of the cell, whereby the local current paths and correspondingly the local forces in the metal above the cathode panel are modified by influencing selectively the current distribution in individual cathode blocks or block sections in the computer based model. At least one modification is implemented in the cell. The invention also relates to a correspondingly modified cell.

A method for optimizing stability in an electrolysis cell of the Hall-Hroult type where the cell has suspended prebaked anodes and a cathode panel. The panel comprises several cathode blocks or cathode block sections. A metal pad and an electrolytic bath are located between said anodes and the cathode panel. The force field acting on the metal pad is calculated and monitored in a computer based model of the cell, whereby the local current paths and correspondingly the local forces in the metal above the cathode panel are modified by influencing selectively the current distribution in individual cathode blocks or block sections in the computer based model. At least one modification is implemented in the cell. The invention also relates to a correspondingly modified cell.

The present invention relates to nonferrous metallurgy, in particular to the electrolytic production of aluminum, more particularly to a structure of a cathode assembly of a reduction cell for production of aluminum. A lining of a cathode assembly of an aluminum reduction cell is provided which comprises a thermal insulation layer and a fire-resistant layer consisting of no less than two sub-layers, wherein the porosity of the thermal insulation layer and the fire-resistant layer increases from an upper sub-layer to a bottom sub-layer and the thickness ratio of the fire-resistant layer and the thermal insulation layer is no less than . Also, the present invention provides a method for lining a cathode assembly of a reduction cell and a reduction cell having the claimed cathode assembly lining. The invention is aimed at the reduction of the cyanide content in upper thermal insulation layers and to provision of conditions for material reuse in the thermal insulation layer, waste reduction and improvement of the environmental situation on aluminum production facilities.

In one embodiment, an electrolytic cell for the production of aluminum from alumina includes: at least one anode module having a plurality of anodes; at least one cathode module, opposing the anode module, wherein the at least one cathode module comprises a plurality of cathodes, wherein the plurality of anodes are suspended above the cathode module and extending downwards towards the cathode module, wherein the plurality of cathodes are positioned extending upwards towards the anode module, wherein each of the plurality of anodes and each of the plurality of cathodes are alternatingly positioned, wherein the plurality of anodes is selectively positionable in a horizontal direction relative to adjacent cathodes, wherein the anode module is selectively positionable in a vertical direction relative to the cathode module, and wherein a portion of each of the anode electrodes overlap a portion of adjacent cathodes.

In one embodiment, an electrolytic cell for the production of aluminum from alumina includes: at least one anode module having a plurality of anodes; at least one cathode module, opposing the anode module, wherein the at least one cathode module comprises a plurality of cathodes, wherein the plurality of anodes are suspended above the cathode module and extending downwards towards the cathode module, wherein the plurality of cathodes are positioned extending upwards towards the anode module, wherein each of the plurality of anodes and each of the plurality of cathodes are alternatingly positioned, wherein the plurality of anodes is selectively positionable in a horizontal direction relative to adjacent cathodes, wherein the anode module is selectively positionable in a vertical direction relative to the cathode module, and wherein a portion of each of the anode electrodes overlap a portion of adjacent cathodes.

A cell includes a pot shell defining an opening through which an anode block is designed to be moved, said anode block being suspended from an anode support forming with said anode block an anode assembly mobile in relation to the pot shell, and a confinement chamber defining a closed volume above said opening for the containment of the gases generated during the production of aluminum, the anode support being connected to an electrical conductor to supply an electrolysis current to the anode block, the anode assembly is fully contained in the confinement chamber, and in that the electrical connection between the mobile electrical conductor and the anode support is made within the confinement chamber.

A cell includes a pot shell defining an opening through which an anode block is designed to be moved, said anode block being suspended from an anode support forming with said anode block an anode assembly mobile in relation to the pot shell, and a confinement chamber defining a closed volume above said opening for the containment of the gases generated during the production of aluminum, the anode support being connected to an electrical conductor to supply an electrolysis current to the anode block, the anode assembly is fully contained in the confinement chamber, and in that the electrical connection between the mobile electrical conductor and the anode support is made within the confinement chamber.

In one embodiment, an electrolytic cell for the production of aluminum from alumina includes: at least one anode module having a plurality of anodes; at least one cathode module, opposing the anode module, wherein the at least one cathode module comprises a plurality of cathodes, wherein the plurality of anodes are suspended above the cathode module and extending downwards towards the cathode module, wherein the plurality of cathodes are positioned extending upwards towards the anode module, wherein each of the plurality of anodes and each of the plurality of cathodes are alternatingly positioned, wherein the plurality of anodes is selectively positionable in a horizontal direction relative to adjacent cathodes, wherein the anode module is selectively positionable in a vertical direction relative to the cathode module, and wherein a portion of each of the anode electrodes overlap a portion of adjacent cathodes.

In one embodiment, an electrolytic cell for the production of aluminum from alumina includes: at least one anode module having a plurality of anodes; at least one cathode module, opposing the anode module, wherein the at least one cathode module comprises a plurality of cathodes, wherein the plurality of anodes are suspended above the cathode module and extending downwards towards the cathode module, wherein the plurality of cathodes are positioned extending upwards towards the anode module, wherein each of the plurality of anodes and each of the plurality of cathodes are alternatingly positioned, wherein the plurality of anodes is selectively positionable in a horizontal direction relative to adjacent cathodes, wherein the anode module is selectively positionable in a vertical direction relative to the cathode module, and wherein a portion of each of the anode electrodes overlap a portion of adjacent cathodes.

The invention provides a system for handling pot lids in an aluminium production plant. The system comprises a robot assembly and a sensor system. The robot assembly comprises at least one manipulator arm and a lid gripper apparatus configured to grip at least one protruding or upstanding formation on a pot lid. The lid gripper apparatus is mounted at one end of the at least one manipulator arm. The sensor system is operable to generate position information to control the position of the at least one manipulator arm and/or lid gripper apparatus.