Sidewall temperature control systems and methods and improved electrolysis cells relating to same

Abstract

An electrolysis cell including an outer shell, a sidewall adjacent the outer shell and spaced therefrom, thereby defining a gap between the sidewall and the outer shell, and a plurality of fluid discharge devices interconnected about the outer shell, each of the plurality of fluid discharge devices extending from the outer shell towards the sidewall, wherein each of the plurality of fluid discharge devices is adapted to provide coolant to the sidewall. The plurality of fluid discharge devices may be individually controlled or controlled in sets to provide selective cooling to the sidewall, thereby facilitating ledge maintenance and profile.

1 . An electrolysis cell comprising:
 an outer shell;   a sidewall proximal the outer shell and being spaced therefrom, thereby defining a gap between the sidewall and the outer shell;   a plurality of fluid discharge devices interconnected about the outer shell, each of the plurality of fluid discharge devices extending from the outer shell toward the sidewall, wherein each of the plurality of fluid discharge devices is adapted to provide coolant to the sidewall.   
     
     
         2 . The electrolysis cell of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell comprises:
 a containment layer; and   an insulative layer.   
     
     
         3 . The electrolysis cell of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall comprises:
 a thermally conductive layer; and   a containment layer interconnected to the thermally conductive layer, the containment layer being adapted to contain molten metal.   
     
     
         4 . The electrolysis cell of  claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of fluid discharge devices is adapted to discharge coolant toward the thermally conductive layer. 
     
     
         5 . The electrolysis cell of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of fluid discharge devices extends at least partially into the gap. 
     
     
         6 . The electrolysis cell of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of fluid discharge devices is configured to deliver the coolant at a selected trajectory. 
     
     
         7 . The electrolysis cell of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of fluid discharge devices comprises a fingerlike shape. 
     
     
         8 . The electrolysis cell of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fluid discharge devices comprises a first set of fluid discharge devices and a second set of fluid discharge devices, wherein the first set of fluid discharge devices is disposed coincidental with a first plane, and wherein the second set of fluid discharge devices is disposed coincidental with a second plane. 
     
     
         9 . The electrolysis cell of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second planes are substantially horizontal planes. 
     
     
         10 . The electrolysis cell of any of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell comprises at least one passageway that fluidly interconnects the gap to an exterior of the outer shell. 
     
     
         11 . The electrolysis cell of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an inlet manifold interconnected to the plurality of fluid discharge devices, the inlet manifold being interconnectable to a coolant supply.   
     
     
         12 . The electrolysis cell of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a plurality of passageways, each of the plurality of passageways being interconnected to the inlet manifold and a corresponding one of the plurality of fluid discharge devices.   
     
     
         13 . The electrolysis cell of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of passageways extends at least partially through the outer shell. 
     
     
         14 . The electrolysis cell of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a coolant outlet passageway fluidly interconnectable to the gap.   
     
     
         15 . The electrolysis cell of  claim 16 , wherein the coolant outlet passageway extends through the outer shell to an outlet manifold located external to the outer shell. 
     
     
         16 . A system for cooling an electrolysis cell, the system comprising:
 an electrolysis cell comprising:
 an outer shell; 
 a sidewall proximal the outer shell and being spaced therefrom, thereby defining a gap between the sidewall and the outer shell; 
 a plurality of fluid discharge devices interconnected about the outer shell, each of the plurality of fluid discharge devices extending from the outer shell toward the sidewall, wherein each of the plurality of fluid discharge devices is adapted to provide coolant to the sidewall; and 
   a controller interconnected to the electrolysis cell, the controller being operable to control a coolant discharge parameter.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the coolant discharge parameter is a fluid discharge direction of at least one fluid discharge device of the plurality of fluid discharge devices. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is interconnected to at least one of the plurality of fluid discharge devices, wherein an outlet of the at least one fluid discharge device is selectively positionable, and wherein the controller is operable to selectively position the fluid discharge device outlet, thereby controlling the fluid discharge direction. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the coolant discharge parameter is a fluid discharge rate of at least one fluid discharge device of the plurality of fluid discharge devices. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the gap is fluidly interconnectable to an outlet manifold, and wherein the outlet manifold is fluidly interconnected to a coolant reclamation system. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of fluid discharge devices are fluidly interconnected to an inlet manifold, the inlet manifold being interconnected to the coolant reclamation system. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the coolant comprises air and the coolant reclamation system comprises a heat exchanger.