Metallurgical assemblies and systems according to the present technology may include a refractory vessel including sides and a base. The base may define a plurality of apertures centrally located within the base. The sides and the base may at least partially define an interior volume of the refractory vessel. The assemblies may include a lid removably coupled with the refractory vessel and configured to form a seal with the refractory vessel. The lid may define a plurality of apertures through the lid. The assemblies may also include a current collector proximate the base of the refractory vessel. The current collector may include conductive extensions positioned within the plurality of apertures centrally located within the base.

Metallurgical assemblies and systems according to the present technology may include a refractory vessel including sides and a base. The base may define a plurality of apertures centrally located within the base. The sides and the base may at least partially define an interior volume of the refractory vessel. The assemblies may include a lid removably coupled with the refractory vessel and configured to form a seal with the refractory vessel. The lid may define a plurality of apertures through the lid. The assemblies may also include a current collector proximate the base of the refractory vessel. The current collector may include conductive extensions positioned within the plurality of apertures centrally located within the base.

A circuit for supplying electrical power (20) at a rated direct current of between 20 kA and 100 kA to an electrolysis cell (21) comprising an upstream busbar (25), a downstream busbar (26), the two upstream (25) and downstream (26) busbars being connected to each other by means of a short-circuiting device (22) which, when closed under the action of an actuating mechanism (229), allows the two busbars to be electrically connected to each other in order to cut off the electrical power supply to the cell (21), an anode bar (213) equipped with an anode connection interface (215) for connection to the anode (211) of the cell, and a cathode connection interface (214) for connection to the cathode (212) of the cell. According to the main features of the invention, the cathode connection interface is connected to the downstream busbar by means of a flexible electrical connector (27), the circuit comprises means for absorbing the movement of the various constituent elements of the circuit due to thermal expansion and a disconnector (23) connected, on the one hand, to the upstream busbar (25) and, on the other hand, to the anode bar (213), the disconnector is opened by an actuating mechanism (239) and electrically disconnects the upstream busbar and the anode bar from each other after a non-zero time interval Tm when the short-circuiting device has been closed, the time interval Tm corresponding to the time of establishment of the rated current in the short-circuiting device (22).

A circuit for supplying electrical power (20) at a rated direct current of between 20 kA and 100 kA to an electrolysis cell (21) comprising an upstream busbar (25), a downstream busbar (26), the two upstream (25) and downstream (26) busbars being connected to each other by means of a short-circuiting device (22) which, when closed under the action of an actuating mechanism (229), allows the two busbars to be electrically connected to each other in order to cut off the electrical power supply to the cell (21), an anode bar (213) equipped with an anode connection interface (215) for connection to the anode (211) of the cell, and a cathode connection interface (214) for connection to the cathode (212) of the cell. According to the main features of the invention, the cathode connection interface is connected to the downstream busbar by means of a flexible electrical connector (27), the circuit comprises means for absorbing the movement of the various constituent elements of the circuit due to thermal expansion and a disconnector (23) connected, on the one hand, to the upstream busbar (25) and, on the other hand, to the anode bar (213), the disconnector is opened by an actuating mechanism (239) and electrically disconnects the upstream busbar and the anode bar from each other after a non-zero time interval Tm when the short-circuiting device has been closed, the time interval Tm corresponding to the time of establishment of the rated current in the short-circuiting device (22).

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for obtaining efficient aluminum smelters. More specifically disclosed herein is a method comprising: applying an alternating current (AC) comprising an oscillatory current waveform to an electrolytic cell comprising an electrolyte for a first predetermined time, wherein waveform comprises an amplitude, frequency and/or phase that are predetermined to stabilize the electrolytic cell such that substantially no change in a current oscillation is observed in the electrolyte during electrolysis. Also disclosed herein is a system comprising an electrolytic cell, direct current and alternating current sources. The disclosed electrolytic cell exhibits substantially no change in oscillations present in the molten salt electrolyte over a predetermined period of time when the AC is provided to the electrolytic cell.

An anode, in particular an anode for the use in aluminium electrolysis cells, includes an anode body with a first stub hole for the insertion of a stub for the connection with a voltage source. The anode includes at least a first aluminium core and a second aluminium core that are arranged inside the anode body for the connection with the voltage source. A first distance between the first aluminium core and the bottom of the anode is different from a second distance between the second aluminium core and the bottom of the anode.

An anode, in particular an anode for the use in aluminium electrolysis cells, includes an anode body with a first stub hole for the insertion of a stub for the connection with a voltage source. The anode includes at least a first aluminium core and a second aluminium core that are arranged inside the anode body for the connection with the voltage source. A first distance between the first aluminium core and the bottom of the anode is different from a second distance between the second aluminium core and the bottom of the anode.

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.

The invention provides a lining for an aluminium electrolyzer having inert anodes and is enclosed in a cathode casing comprising a bottom formed from taller blocks having projections and shorter bottom blocks. The shorter bottom blocks are mounted at the ends of the bottom of the cathode device. The shorter bottom blocks alternate with the taller bottom blocks having projections. Vertical channels are provided in the projections of the blocks over the entire thickness of the block for the mounting of conductive elements formed from aluminium and are attached in the lower part to a current-carrying collector that is in the form of a plate which extends out of the ends of the bottom blocks and through the longitudinal sides of the cathode casing.