Method of controlling an aluminum reduction cell with the minimum power

Abstract

This invention refers to metallurgy of aluminum, specifically, to the method of extracting aluminum by molten salt reduction, namely, the method of controlling an aluminum reduction cell by the minimum power. This method consists in measuring the resistive voltage drop in the reduction cell, comparison of the measured value with the set voltage drop value in the reduction cell and elimination of the mismatch by the relevant anode displacement. The anode displacement reduces the mismatch between the heating power and the set value until the minimum power is released in the reduction cell. Release of the minimum power is determined by the spontaneous growth of the electrochemical component of the reduction cell voltage, this mismatch is maintained with the relevant anode displacement without any variations in the thermal state of the reduction cell. The invention enables to reduce the electric power consumption, enhance the current metal yield and reduce the labor intensity of reduction cell maintenance.

1 . The method of controlling the aluminum reduction cell by measuring the resistive voltage drop in the reduction cell, comparing the measured value with the set voltage drop in the reduction cell and eliminating the mismatch by displacing the relevant anode characterized by displacing the anode, thus reducing the mismatch between the heating power and the set value until the release of the minimum power in the reduction cell; determining the release of the minimum power by the spontaneous growth of the electrochemical component of the reduction cell voltage and maintaining this mismatch by the relevant anode displacement without changing the thermal state of the reduction cell. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  characterized by creating the mismatch between the heating power and the set value with the minimum power release in the reduction cell during the period of reduction cell thermal constant and maintaining in each period of measurement the resistive voltage drop in the reduction cell. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  characterized by determining the anode displacement by the mismatch between the minimum power in the reduction cell and the set value during the current period of its operation and the predicted minimum power release during the further period of its operation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  characterized by maintaining the minimum power release in the reduction cell without any changes in the thermal state of the reduction cell through displacing the anode by a possible power reduction value in the reduction cell to the minimum value, and increasing the power by the value of spontaneous growth of the electrochemical component of the reduction cell voltage. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  characterized by determining the minimum power release by the spontaneous growth of the electrochemical component of the reduction cell voltage concurrently with all variable parameters of the aluminum reduction process from all disturbances introduced in the process. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  characterized by determining the set power for the further period of operation of the reduction cell by the sum of the given power value during the current period of its operation and the mismatch between the minimum power and the set value during the relevant period of the reduction cell operation.