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  Aluminum production installation employing fused-salt electrolysisUSPTO Application #: 20060086607Title: Aluminum production installation employing fused-salt electrolysis Abstract: The invention relates to an electrolysis installation, intended for the production of aluminium based on igneous electrolysis, comprising a potroom, a plurality of electrolytic cells arranged inside the potroom, a service aisle parallel to the line of cells and located inside the potroom, and at least one first mobile lifting and handling unit, supported on a first runway parallel to the main axis A of the line, and that can be moved above the line of cells on the first runway, and wherein the installation also comprises at least one second mobile lifting and handling unit, and a second runway parallel to the main axis A of the line and independent of the first runway, and in that the second unit is supported on the second runway and can be moved along the second runway and can be moved underneath the first unit and along the line of electrolytic cells, on the second runway, such that the two lifting and handling units can be moved independently, and in that the said second unit is capable of lifting and handling liquid metal ladles and/or liquid bath ladles. (end of abstract) Agent: Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz LLP - Washington, DC, US Inventor: Christian Duval USPTO Applicaton #: 20060086607 - Class: 204194000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Chemistry: Electrical And Wave Energy, Apparatus, Electrolytic The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060086607. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
DOMAIN OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to aluminium production plants based on igneous electrolysis using the Hall-Heroult process. It particularly relates to handling equipment used in the said plants. STATE OF THE ART [0002] Aluminium metal is produced industrially by igneous electrolysis, namely by electrolysis of alumina in solution in a molten cryolithic bath called an electrolytic bath, using the well known Hall-Heroult process. The electrolytic bath is contained in pots comprising a steel shell lined on the inside with refractory and/or insulating materials, and a cathodic assembly located at the bottom of the pot. Anodes made of carbonaceous materials are partially immersed in the electrolytic bath. Each pot and its anodes form what is frequently called an electrolytic cell. The electrolysis current that circulates in the electrolytic bath and the layer of liquid aluminium through anodes and cathode elements, causes alumina reduction reactions to take place and also keeps the electrolytic bath at a temperature of the order of 950.degree. C. by the Joule effect. [0003] The plants contain a large number of electrolytic cells arranged in line, in buildings called electrolysis halls or potrooms, and are electrically connected in series using connecting conductors so as to optimise the ground occupancy of the plants. The cells are usually arranged so as to form two or more parallel lines that are electrically connected together by end conductors. Thus, the electrolytic current passes in cascade from one cell to the next. [0004] Work has to be done on electrolytic cells during operation of an electrolysis plant, particularly including the replacement of spent anodes by new anodes, tapping liquid metal from cells and tapping or adding electrolyte. The most modern plants are equipped with a lifting and handling unit (frequently referred to as a "overhead crane" or "travelling crane") that may be moved longitudinally above and along the electrolytic cells, and is provided with several devices (frequently called "tools") such as shovels and hoists for handling and for working. [0005] Although travelling cranes have many advantages when doing work on electrolytic cells, the applicant has noted that their multi-functional nature means that various facilities on them are underused, which unnecessarily increases operating costs. [0006] Therefore, the applicant searched for means of reducing investment and operating costs of known installations. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0007] The purpose of the invention is an electrolysis installation designed for the production of aluminium by igneous electrolysis, comprising a potroom, a plurality of electrolytic cells arranged in line inside the potroom, a passageway (also called a "service aisle") parallel to the said line of cells and located inside the potroom, and at least one first mobile lifting and handling unit called a "travelling crane", that is supported on a first runway parallel to the main axis of the line and that can be moved above the said line of cells on the said first runway. [0008] The installation according to the invention is characterised in that it also comprises at least one second mobile lifting and handling unit called the "lateral portal crane" or "lateral gantry", and a second runway parallel to the main axis of the line and independent of the first runway, and in that this second unit is supported by the said second runway and can be moved underneath the first unit, along the said line of electrolytic cells on the said second runway, such that the two lifting and handling units can be moved independently, and in that the said second unit is capable of lifting and handling liquid metal ladles and/or liquid bath ladles. [0009] In his search for a solution to the stated problem, the applicant had the idea of separating the handling and lifting devices (or "tools") as a function of the displacement requirements for each operation done on the cells. More precisely, the applicant had the idea of separating operations that require movements of the said tools over a large proportion of the surface of the electrolytic potroom, such as anode changes, from operations limited to much more specific zones of the potroom, such as tapping liquid metals that only involves movements along a relatively narrow strip along one of the ends of the cells. The applicant also had the idea of equipping the potroom with at least one second lifting and handling unit independent of the first unit and moving underneath the first unit, and making it specialised in operations that only require mobility along the ends of the cells. The two units can pass one above the other so that one can move independently of the other. [0010] Another purpose of the invention is to use an electrolysis installation according to the invention for production of aluminium. [0011] Another purpose of the invention is a production plant comprising at least one electrolysis installation according to the invention. [0012] The invention will be better understood with the help of the figures and the detailed description given below. [0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an electrolysis installation for aluminium production according to prior art. [0014] FIG. 2 illustrates an electrolysis installation for the production of aluminium according to the invention. [0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a variant of the electrolysis installation for the production of aluminium according to the invention. [0016] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a lateral lifting and handling unit in an electrolysis installation for production of aluminium according to the invention. [0017] FIG. 5 illustrates typical displacement limits of the lateral lifting and handling unit according to the invention. [0018] FIG. 6 illustrates a lateral lifting and handling unit of an electrolysis installation for the production of aluminium according to the invention in a liquid metal tapping position. [0019] The electrolysis plants intended for the production of aluminium comprise a liquid aluminium production zone that comprises one or several electrolytic potrooms (1). These potrooms contain electrolytic cells (2) that are arranged in substantially linear rows or lines, each line typically containing more than a hundred cells. Each potroom typically contains one or two lines of electrolytic cells. [0020] Passageways are also provided in the units for circulation, particularly for the transport of equipment, anodes and liquid aluminium. In particular, the electrolytic potrooms (1) are served by external peripheral roads and access means (4, 5) to enable motorised vehicles to enter and to leave (16). [0021] Each potroom usually comprises at least one internal passageway (15) called the "service aisle" parallel to the line of cells. This aisle is used for the circulation of motorised vehicles (16) and operators (17) and for temporary storage of equipment (such as anodes) or apparatus. The service aisle (15) is usually elevated above the ground (3), so that access ramps (5) are necessary between the aisle and the peripheral roads. Continue reading... Full patent description for Aluminum production installation employing fused-salt electrolysis Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Aluminum production installation employing fused-salt electrolysis patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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