Chemistry: electrical and wave energy – Apparatus – Electrolytic
Patent
1989-05-19
1992-04-28
Niebling, John
Chemistry: electrical and wave energy
Apparatus
Electrolytic
204286, C25C 300
Patent
active
051085720
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to an electrolytic furnace, which is particularly intended for the production of aluminium.
The furnaces, and more especially the electrolytic furnaces, which are intended for the production of aluminium, are generally in the form of massive constructions, i.e. constructed in situ with solid materials, such as bricks and concrete. The refractory bricks form the solid base structure of the elements of the furnace. Such massive constructions are necessary, with the known furnaces, for supporting the considerable stresses which are caused by the expansion. The expansions create enormous forces, on account of the high temperatures of more than 900 degrees and make necessary considerable dimensions for the furnaces, which may measure more than 10 metres in length. Even with these enormous structures, it frequently happens that the expansion causes cracks in the elements of the furnace. The occurence of these cracks is uncontrollable and these may also occur after several days or even after several months from the time when the furnace is first brought into operation. These cracks make the installations unusable and the repairs generally necessitate a complete dismantling of the furnace. These dismantling operations are difficult, because the structures are made of solid materials which have to be demolished.
When repairs are necessary, the periods during which the installations are immobilised are long and are shown by corresponding losses of operation time. The electrolytic furnaces use an enormous amount of energy in order to function. So as to avoid needless loss of energy, it is important for the means used for insulation to be efficient.
The materials which are used for forming the structure of the tanks, for example, the refractory bricks, have insulation factors which are relatively low, and this is manifested by considerable losses of thermal energy.
Another important disadvantage of the existing installations is concerned with the efficiency of the electrical contacts between the carbon elements and the conductive metallic bars which supply the current. Openings corresponding to the exact dimensions of the bars are formed in the carbon elements, and the metallic bars are introduced thereinto. Deformations occur, because of considerable expansions of the furnace, and these modify the geometry of the surfaces which are in contact and as a consequence here and there the contact is no longer perfect, this being manifested by considerable losses of electrical energy.
It is the object of the invention to obviate the defects of the known installations.
To this end, the electrolytic furnace according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a plurality of refractory concrete elements positioned on supports in such manner as to permit a sliding of the said concrete elements on the said supports, and carbon elements and conducting metallic bars, the refractory concrete elements, the carbon elements and the conducting bars being held fast by the action of compression-adjustable elastic members.
As the refractory concrete elements and the carbon elements are held together by elastic members, the result is that all the tensions caused by the expansion are absorbed by said members. The massive structures of the tanks are no longer necessary. The expansions being absorbed, the dangers of cracks are practically eliminated. If a material defect of the refractory concrete should, for example, have caused a crack, the repairs can be very easily carried out by simply replacing the single element involved.
The assembly of the refractory concrete elements, on the one hand, and the assembly of the carbon elements and conductive metallic bars, on the other hand, may be achieved by the action of separate resilient members.
The assembly of the refractory concrete elements may, for example, be effected with the aid of floating rods passing freely through the refractory concrete elements, an adjusting nut being mounted at one at least of the ends of each rod, the said end comprising a c
REFERENCES:
patent: 2861036 (1958-11-01), Simon-Suisse
patent: 3764509 (1972-02-01), Etzel
patent: 4259161 (1981-03-01), Das
patent: 4421625 (1983-12-01), Fischer
patent: 4544469 (1985-10-01), Boxall
Koestner Caroline
Niebling John
Yan Lathion
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