METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING LEVELS OF ELECTROLYTE AND METAL IN ELECTROLYSER FOR OBTAINING ALUMINUM Russian patent published in 2018 - IPC C25C3/20 

FIELD: measuring equipment.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining levels of a metal and an electrolyte in an electrolysis cell for producing aluminum during its operation. Method includes immersion in the electrode melt, followed by determining the height of the metal layer and the electrolyte layer, while the electrode is connected to the input of the measuring unit and immersed in the melt at a predetermined speed (V), determine the instant of abrupt change in the potential of said electrode when the electrode tip touches the electrolyte melt (X_r), and then the aluminum melt (Z_Al), taking into account the initial position of the height of the electrode relative to the upper plane of the carbon cathode block H_xb calculate the height of the electrolyte melt h_el = VX_r-H_xb and the height of the aluminum melt h_Al = VZ_Al-H_xb and the obtained values of the melt height of the electrolyte and aluminum are transferred via the Wi-Fi module to the control panel of the process control system. Device has a hermetically sealed stainless steel casing with a bracket for rigid attachment to the cathode assembly from the ends of the electrolysis tank with the possibility of fixing the position of said casing within 90° relative to the end of the cathode assembly, an electronic measuring unit and a mechanical device housed in a casing, while the electronic measuring unit contains a microcontroller for generating a readiness signal for the measurement, a Wi-Fi module for transmitting the ready signal for the measurement and the measurement enable signal, buffer amplifier for the formation of a pulsed signal of an abrupt change in the potential of the electrode when the tip of the electrode touches the electrolyte melt (X_r), and then the aluminum melt (Z_Al), a stepper motor driver, a control device and a constant voltage converter of the cell Ue into a voltage (U_pow) for their feeding, the mechanical device includes a reducer with a gear, controlled by a stepper motor that moves the electrode in height, the electrode is made of stainless steel with a tip and is located in said housing with the possibility of adjusting the position along the axis, the upper end of said electrode being connected to the input of the measuring unit by a conductor wound on the roulette wheel and the lower end thereof with a tip immersed in the melt, the side surface of the electrode is made in the form of a developed gear, the teeth of which are docked with the gear of the reducer, placed in the middle of the electrode, and a part of the electrode, which is lowered into the melt, is made with a coating of heat-resistant insulating material, leaving the tip of the electrode free of coating.

EFFECT: improved measurement accuracy, process stabilization and increased cell productivity are provided.

4 cl, 3 dwg