This intervention tool is movable and designed to reposition an anode assembly of an electrolytic cell. The intervention tool comprises a mount provided with one or more bearing surfaces allowing the intervention tool to bear and be stably supported directly on at least one element of the electrolytic cell, and an intervention unit designed to reposition the anode assembly.

The present invention concerns a method and an arrangement for processing calcinated carbon bodies such as anodes or cathodes for use in connection with electrolytic production of aluminium. The carbon bodies are processed using a rotating processing tool (101) that consists of a mainly circular disc with cutting edges (114) mounted at its periphery. The cutting edges may be made of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) or an equivalent material. The rotating processing tool mounted on a rotating, driven spindle and is guided by guiding elements (110) that can be jets or perforated discs that blows pressurized air at the tool, or rollers (120). With the present invention it is possible to create narrow and deep slots in calcinated carbon bodies in an efficient manner with low tool wear.

A method of refining a metal (e.g. titanium), comprising the following steps: (a) providing (10) an oxide of the metal having a level of impurities of at least 1.0 wt %; (b) reacting (12) the oxide of the metal to form an oxycarbide by providing an electrode comprising the oxide of the metal including calcium oxide and iron oxide. and carbon, and electrolytically reducing the electrode in a molten calcium chloride electrolyte; (c) electrolysing (14) the oxycarbide in an electrolyte, with the oxycarbide configured as an anode; and (d) recovering (16) a refined form of the metal from a cathode in the electrolyte.

The invention relates to nonferrous metallurgy and can be used for producing an aluminum-scandium alloy comprising 0.41-4 wt % of scandium in industrial production setting. The proposed method is carried out by melting aluminum and a mixture of salts comprising sodium, potassium and aluminum fluorides followed by performing simultaneously, while continuously supplying scandium oxide, an aluminothermic reduction of scandium from its oxide and an electrolytic decomposition of the formed alumina, wherein the concentration of the scandium oxide in the salt mixture melt is maintained at 1 to 8 wt. %. Periodically, at least a portion of the produced alloy is removed, aluminum is then charged, and the process of alloy production is continued while supplying scandium oxide. Also proposed is a reactor for producing an aluminum-scandium alloy by the disclosed method. The method makes it possible to produce the aluminum-scandium alloy with a predetermined composition, and ensures a high purity of the final product and a high level of scandium recovery while reducing the production process temperature and energy consumption.

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.

The invention relates to vertical or inclined electrodes of an electrolyzer for electrolytically producing aluminum from aluminum oxide. An electrode contains an electrode base and a surface coating based on refractory ceramics. According to a first variant of the invention, the electrode base is made of a composite material containing between 5% and 90% by mass of refractory ceramics, and of at least one metal having a melting temperature exceeding 1000 C., which forms refractory intermetallic compounds upon interaction with aluminum, and/or containing at least one alloy of such a metal. According to a second variant of the invention, the electrode base is made of a metal alloy, for example structural steel or another alloy, and the surface of the electrode base has applied thereto an intermediary layer consisting of a composite material having the composition described above.

An anode for use in an electrolysis process for production of aluminium in cells of Hail-Hroult type, the anode comprises a body or block (120; 20) of calcinated carbonaceous material connected with an electrical current lead, where said current lead being connected with an anode rod (103; 3) and further being part of an anode hanger (101; 1). The current lead comprises at least one metallic suspension plate(s) (104; 4. 4) with vertically oriented redding plates (105 105,5, 5) at least partly embedded by their lower partly in corresponding recesses (113, 113, 13. 13; 100, 100) in the top of the carbonaceous block (120; 20} and further connected by mechanical fixation means (108; 8; 14, 16). Said recesses are wider than the rodding plates and being filled with an electric conductive particulate material only. It Is also described a method for processing an undercut recess (10) in the an ode top for mechanically fixing the anode block (20) to a protrusion (8) on the current lead.

An apparatus, also named transfer box or TB, for conveying an anode assembly outside of an electrolyte cell is described. An apparatus, also named cell preheater lifting beam or CPLB, for conveying an anode assembly or a cell pre-heater outside of an electrolyte cell is also disclosed. TB and CPLB are conjointly used for starting up the electrolytic cell or for replacing a spent anode assembly while maintaining the production of non-ferrous metal, such as aluminum or aluminium. The thermal insulation of the TB allows maintaining the anode temperature homogeneity and preventing thermal shocks when introducing the inert anodes into the hot electrolytic bath. TN and CPLB allow accurate positioning of anode assemblies or cell-preheaters over the electrolysis cell before achieving mechanical and electrical connections of the anode assembly or the cell pre-heater to the electrolysis cell. Several related methods for the operation of an electrolytic cell are also disclosed.

An apparatus, also named transfer box or TB, for conveying an anode assembly outside of an electrolyte cell is described. An apparatus, also named cell preheater lifting beam or CPLB, for conveying an anode assembly or a cell pre-heater outside of an electrolyte cell is also disclosed. TB and CPLB are conjointly used for starting up the electrolytic cell or for replacing a spent anode assembly while maintaining the production of non-ferrous metal, such as aluminum or aluminium. The thermal insulation of the TB allows maintaining the anode temperature homogeneity and preventing thermal shocks when introducing the inert anodes into the hot electrolytic bath. TN and CPLB allow accurate positioning of anode assemblies or cell-preheaters over the electrolysis cell before achieving mechanical and electrical connections of the anode assembly or the cell pre-heater to the electrolysis cell. Several related methods for the operation of an electrolytic cell are also disclosed.

A method of refining a metal (e.g. titanium), comprising the following steps: (a) providing (10) an oxide of the metal having a level of impurities of at least 1.0 wt %; (b) reacting (12) the oxide of the metal to form an oxycarbide by providing an electrode comprising the oxide of the metal and carbon, and electrolytically reducing the electrode in a molten calcium chloride electrolyte; (c) electrolysing (14) the oxycarbide in an electrolyte, with the oxycarbide configured as an anode; and (d) recovering (16) a refined form of the metal from a cathode in the electrolyte.