ELECTROLYSIS UNIT FOR ALUMINIUM MANUFACTURE Russian patent published in 2013 - IPC C25C3/08 

FIELD: metallurgy.

SUBSTANCE: electrolysis unit includes a cathode device containing a bath provided with a coal bottom and composed of coal blocks enclosed in a metal housing, with refractory and heat-insulating materials arranged between the metal housing, an anode assembly containing coal anodes connected to anode sludge, arranged in upper part of the bath and submerged into molten electrolyte; at the coal bottom, under each of the anodes there located are floats with higher specific electric conductivity in comparison to that of electrolyte, stable to destruction in cryolite-alumina melts and liquid aluminium; with that, upper surface of the float projects above the level of cathode aluminium and the floats can be moved and/or replaced to reduce inter-pole gap between anode and cathode. The floats are made from carbon, or from silicon carbide, or from a mixture of titanium diboride and carbon based on high-temperature binding substance and are covered with titanium diboride. Upper surface of the float is flat, or convex, or concave, or inclined to horizon and has capillaries and/or channels, and/or planes attaching the upper surface of a pedestal to cathode metal.

EFFECT: reduction of specific power consumption.

15 cl, 4 dwg