Insulation assembly for electrolysis cell

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017211196-A1
Application number	US-201715416559-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 26, 2017
Priority date	Jan 26, 2016
Publication date	Jul 27, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An insulation assembly is provided, including: a body of an insulating material with a lower surface configured to contact a sidewall an electrolysis cell; an upper surface generally opposed to the lower surface; and a perimetrical sidewall extending between the upper surface and the lower surface to surround the remainder of the body, the perimetrical sidewall including: an inner portion configured to face an anode surface of the electrolysis cell and provide a gap between the body and the anode surface of the electrolysis cell; wherein the body is configured to extend from the sidewall towards the anode surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An insulation assembly, comprising:
a body of an insulating material, the body having:
a lower surface configured to contact a sidewall of an electrolysis cell;
an upper surface generally opposed to the lower surface; and
a perimetrical sidewall extending between the upper surface and the lower surface to surround the remainder of the body, wherein the perimetrical sidewall includes an inner portion, wherein the inner portion is configured to face an anode surface of the electrolysis cell, wherein the inner surface is constructed of a non-metallic material;
wherein the body is configured to extend from the sidewall towards the anode surface; wherein the inner surface is configured to provide a gap between the body and the anode surface of the electrolysis cell.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the gap is at least 2 mm to not greater than 10 mm.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein via the configuration of the gap, the gap is self-seals with solidified bath.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the body is at least 1″ thick to not greater than 10″ thick.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the insulation assembly comprises a side aisle refractory block.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises: refractory; alumina based refractory, castable, silica, aluminosilicates, calcium aluminates, and combinations thereof.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lower surface constructed of a non-metallic material.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the body of insulating material is configured to maintain non-contact with the anode surface of the electrolysis cell.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the upper surface configured with a lift point.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the lift point includes an attachment site configured to allow attachment to the body, wherein the attachment site is configured to support the weight of the body.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a port extending through the body from the upper surface to the lower surface

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the port is configured to support and permit at least one of the following to extend therethrough: an alumina feed device; a sensor, a probe, a tapping rod/device, a thermocouple, a sampling container, and combinations thereof.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the assembly further comprises a cap, wherein the cap is configured to fit into and be retained in the port of the body.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the cap comprises a refractory material selected from:
alumino-silicate material, low-cement alumina, and combinations thereof.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the cap is retained in the port via gravity.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the gap is retained in the port via a press-fit.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises: a low density insulating material and a high density insulating material, wherein the lower surface and perimetrical sidewall comprise the high density insulating material.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a depression in the upper surface, wherein a low density insulating material is retained within the depression.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the low density insulating material is at least one of: a thermal blanket; an alumina blanket; a silica based blanket; and combinations thereof.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the total percentage of cross sectional volume of the insulation assembly that is low density insulation material is: at least 10% as compared to the cross-sectional volume of the high density insulation material.

21 . The method of claim 18 , the total percentage of cross sectional volume of the insulation assembly that is low density insulation material is: not greater than 70%, as compared to the cross-sectional volume of the high density insulation material.

22 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the depression is configured proximal to the inner surface of the sidewall.

23 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the assembly comprises a cover, wherein the cover is configured to fit over the depression and retain the low density insulating material inside of the depression in the upper surface.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the cover comprises: metal, stainless steel, aluminum, mild steel, refractory castable, refractory board, and combinations thereof.

25 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the body is a monolithic piece with a depression cast into the upper surface.

26 . The method of claim 1 , wherein based on the configuration of the body, the center of gravity is configured closer to an outer surface rather than the center of the assembly, such that the assembly rests on the sidewall without mechanical attachment.

27 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a mechanical attachment to the deckplate.

28 . An insulation assembly, comprising:
a monolithic body of an insulating material, the monolithic body having:
a lower surface constructed of a non-conducting material, wherein the lower surface is configured to contact an upper portion of a sidewall of an electrolysis cell;
an upper surface generally opposed from the lower surface, the upper surface configured with a lift device, the lift device having an attachment site configured to allow attachment to the monolithic body and support the weight of the monolithic body when lifted from contact with the deck plate of the electrolysis cell; and
a perimetrical sidewall extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, the perimetrical sidewall having an inner portion configured to face the open upper region of the electrolysis cell, wherein the inner surface is constructed of an insulating material;
wherein the monolithic body of insulating material is configured to maintain non-contact with an anode assembly of the electrolysis cell.

29 . An apparatus, comprising:
an electrolysis cell comprising:
a cell bottom, at least one anode, at least one cathode, and at least one sidewall perimetrically surrounding the cell bottom, wherein the sidewall comprises:
an inner face configured to retain a molten electrolyte and a top edge wherein the sidewall has an upper portion; at least one insulation assembly configured to fit on the top edge of the sidewall and not contact an anode surface, wherein the insulation assembly comprises:
a body comprising a non-metallic material, wherein the body comprises a lower surface contacting the top edge of the sidewall and an upper surface configured with a lift device.

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the gap is at least 2 mm to not greater than 10 mm.

31 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the gap is configured to self-seal with a solidified bath material from the cell.

32 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the body is at least 1 inch thick to not greater than 10 inches thick.

33 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the body comprises a port extending through the body from the upper surface to the lower surface.

34 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the port is configured to support and permit at least one of the following to extend therethrough: an alumina feed device; a sensor, a

Assignees

• Alcoa Usa Corp

Inventors

• D'Astolfo Leroy E
• Czekaj Steven A
• Ruan Yimin

Classifications

• C25C3/08 Primary

  Cell construction, e.g. bottoms, walls, cathodes · CPC title

• C25C3/085

  characterised by its non electrically conducting heat insulating parts · CPC title

• C25C7/00

  Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells; Servicing or operating of cells (for the production of aluminium C25C3/06 - C25C3/22) · CPC title

• C25C3/00

  Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts (C25C5/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• C25C7/005 Primary

  of cells for the electrolysis of melts (C25C7/02 - C25C7/06 take precedence) · CPC title