This invention relates to low resistance electrical connections between a solid metallic pin conductor and the interior of a ceramic or cermet inert anode used in the production of metal, such as aluminum, by an electrolytic process.
A number of metals including aluminum, lead, magnesium, zinc, zirconium, titanium, and silicon can be produced by electrolytic processes. Each of these electrolytic processes employs an electrode in a highly corrosive environment.
One example of an electrolytic process for metal production is the well-known Hall-Heroult process producing aluminum in which alumina dissolved in a molten fluoride bath is electrolyzed at temperatures of about 960° C.-1000° C. As generally practiced today, the process relies upon carbon as an anode to reduce alumina to molten aluminum. The carbon electrode is oxidized to form primarily CO2, which is given off as a gas. Despite the common usage of carbon as an electrode material in practicing the process, there are a number of disadvantages to its use, and so, attempts are being made to replace them with inert (not containing carbon) anode electrodes made of for example a ceramic, metal-ceramic “cermet” or metal containing material.
Ceramic and cermet electrodes are inert, non-consumable and dimensionally stable under cell operating conditions. Replacement of carbon anodes with inert anodes allows a highly productive cell design to be utilized, thereby reducing costs. Significant environmental benefits are achievable because inert electrodes produce essentially no CO2 or fluorocarbon or hydrocarbon emissions. Some examples of inert anode compositions are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,374,761; 5,279,715; 6,126,799; 6,372,119; 6,416,649; 6,423,204; and 6,423,195, all assigned to Alcoa Inc. and herein incorporated by reference.
Although ceramic and cermet electrodes are capable of producing aluminum having an acceptably low impurity content, they are susceptible to cracking during cell start-up when subjected to temperature differentials on the order of about 900° C.-1000° C. In addition, ceramic components of the anode support structure assembly are also subject to damage from thermal shock during cell start-up and from corrosion during cell operation. One example of an inert anode assembly for an aluminum smelting cell is shown in FIG. 3 of U.S. patent application Publication 2001/0035344 A1 (D'Astolfo, Jr. et al.) where cup shaped anodes can be filled with a protective material and then attached to an insulating lid or plate.
Making a low resistance electrical connection between a ceramic or ceramic-metallic electrode and a metallic conductor has always been a challenge. The connection must be maintained with good integrity (low electrical resistance) over a wide range of temperatures and operating conditions. Various attempts have been made with brazing, diffusion bonding, and mechanically connecting with limited success. Examples of sinter threading and electromechanical attachment are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,626,333 and 6,264,810 B1 (Secrist et al, and Stol et al. respectively). Also, differential thermal growth between the pin and ceramic or cermet, over the assembly and process temperature range can cause the inert material to crack and/or the electrical connection to increase in resistance; rendering the assembly unfit for continued use.
What is needed is a pin-to inert material interior connection that is simple, not labor intensive to assemble and which will provide a low electrical resistance connection that will not deteriorate over time or cause cracking of the anode. It is a main object of this invention to provide a low electrical resistance connection of the pin conductor and inert anode electrode. It is another object to reduce assembly costs and provide a simplified design and method.
The above needs are met and objects accomplished by providing, a sintered electrode assembly comprising: an inert electrode containing a sealed metal conductor, the conductor having a surface feature to aid in bond formation, where the conductor is directly contacted by and is substantially surrounded by the inert electrode. No metal foam or metal powder is needed in this invention to achieve good bonding. The invention also resides in a sintered electrode assembly comprising: an inert electrode having a hollow interior with a top portion and interior bottom and side walls; a metal pin conductor having bottom and side surfaces, disposed within the hollow electrode interior and directly contacting the electrode interior walls with the aid of a surface feature on the conductor to aid in bond formation. There is no need for a seal surrounding the metal pin conductor at the top portion of the electrode. This surface feature can be a textural, chemical/mechanical (including mechanical/electrical) surface feature or an internal or external flux feature, and the like and the term “surface feature” is herein meant to include all of the above.
The inert electrode is preferably selected from the group consisting of a ceramic or a cermet inert anode, and the metal pin conductor is selected from the group consisting of nickel, nickel alloy, Inconel, copper, copper alloy, or a corrosion protected steel, preferably having a circular cross-section. The surface feature can be an additive/coating and is preferably a layer selected from the group consisting of nickel, nickel-copper alloy, copper, copper alloy, tin alloy, silver or silver alloy, which has been pre-applied to the metal pin conductor by means of a spray coating, dip coating, paint coating or wrapping. A surface coating of a flux material, pre-applied or which migrates to the interface between the conductor and the anode during sintering is also possible. The anode assembly is useful for an electrolytic cell.
The invention also resides in a method of producing an electrode assembly comprising: (1) providing an inert anode electrode having a hollow interior with a top portion and interior and bottom and side walls; (2) providing a metal pin conductor having a surface feature on the surface of or within the conductor; (3) inserting said conductor into said inert electrode, and (4) sintering to achieve a chemical/mechanical connection, where, during the sintering the surface feature aids bonding.
The preferred metal pin conductor can be inserted at ambient temperatures. The assembly is then sintered and a mechanical-electrical bond is formed as the electrode material shrinks around the metal pin.
The preferred connection design alleviates cracked anodes due to differential thermal growth, provides a stable electrical joint resistance that does not degrade with age, and requires only a coating between the pin and ceramic or cermet. This allows reduced materials and assembly costs and supports simplified automated assembly.
A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the above and following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The metal pin conductor-inert anode connection shown in
In the second embodiment, shown in
In the third embodiment, shown in
For convenience, this invention will be described in more detail than above, with reference to an electrode assembly for producing aluminum by an electrolytic process. As used herein, the term “inert anode” refers to a substantially non-consumable, non-carbon anode having satisfactory resistance to corrosion and dimensional stability during the metal production process. This can be a ceramic or cermet (ceramic/metal) material, both of which are well known in the art. Initial porosity of inert anodes powder is reduced to 40 vol. % porosity (60 vol. % of theoretical density) after isostatic or other pressing/molding possibly around a mandrel or the like to form a “green” anode. Upon sintering at about 1150° C. to about 1500° C., preferably 1200° C. to 1400° C. the ceramic powder consolidates to from about 1 vol. % to 10 vol. % porosity (90 vol. % to 99 vol. % of theoretical density).
The metal conductor is usually of a pin/rod design having a circular cross-section as shown in FIG. 1. Here, the conductor rod is made smaller than the hole in the green anode before sintering. The gap is carefully sized such that during sintering, said gap closes and the anode material comes into contact with the metal conductor pin and surface additive 30. The additive bond coat or wrapping on the pin softens or melts at a temperature, achieved during the sintering process, such that it becomes a bonding agent between the metal conductor and anode at interface 45, shown in FIG. 2. The gap 35 between the inert anode and the metal pin conductor is selected to provide complete interference fit after sintering. The anode material does not crack due to the stresses imparted to it from the metal pin because of the compliance and ductility of the anode material at the sintering temperature. The gap 35 between the inert anode and the metal conductor pin can range from nearly zero to 30 mm. Once the connection is achieved at the highest sintering temperatures, somewhere between about 1200° C. to 1500° C., both metal pin and anode shrink together during the cool down process to provide a reduced, highly densified anode, as shown in
In the second embodiment shown in
In the third embodiment
An electrode assembly was prepared using a hollow inert anode, a metal conductor comprised of Inconel 600 alloy, and a coating on the conductor of a copper-nickel alloy. The anode was isostatically pressed from powder to have a hollow opening of 0.813 inches (2.06 cm) diameter. Anode porosity after pressing was about 40 vol. %. The pin diameter was 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) and the surface additive coating was applied as a flame spray to a thickness of 0.030 inches (0.076 cm) around the pin. The coating composition was 67.8 wt. % copper, 30.6 wt. % nickel with the balance Fe, Mn, Ti and other impurities. The anode was sintered at 1250° C. in an argon atmosphere until a full density, about 1 vol. % to 5 vol. % porosity was achieved. The concurrent shrinkage allowed the sintered anode material to come in contact with the pin and coating and establish a continuous, coherent electrical contact at the interface. The bonding was good enough to serve as a mechanical support. Final anode dimensions were 6 inches (15.24 cm) long by 3 inches (7.62 cm) in diameter, with a hemispherical bottom.
A group of 12 of these anodes were arranged in an assembly consisting of a square array on 4.2 inch (10.6 cm) centers. The anodes were set in an externally heated cell with a graphite crucible and an alumina inner sidewall liner. Bath and aluminum metal were pre-charged as solid materials, and the anode assembly was mounted above the bath. Cell and anodes were preheated simultaneously to an operating temperature of approximately 960° C. Once the bath and metal were molten, the anodes were lowered into the bath at an immersion level of 3.25 inches (8.2 cm), and DC current was applied. Approximately 1086 amperes total, or 90.5 amperes per anode of DC current was applied. The cell was continuously fed with alumina to maintain alumina concentration about 6%. The cell was operated for 334 hours under stable conditions. Average cell voltage was 4.77 volts, and was stable to slowly falling throughout the test, and ranged from 5.3 to 4.5 volts. After the test, the anodes and cell were slowly cooled. Inspection of the anodes afterwards revealed that they were in excellent condition with no cracking and minimal wear.
A series of 24 anodes were produced and tested in a statistically-designed matrix of experiments. The electrode assemblies were prepared using hollow inert anodes, a metal conductor, and an additive coating on the conductor. The conductor comprised a copper-nickel alloy. The anode was isostatically pressed from powder to have a hollow opening of various diameters. The coating composition was 67.8 wt. % copper, 30.6 wt. % nickel with the balance of Fe, Mn, Ti and other impurities. The anodes were sintered at 1250° C. in an argon atmosphere until a full density was achieved, about 1 vol. % to 5 vol. % porosity. The concurrent shrinkage allowed the sintered anode material to come in contact with the pin and coating and establish a continuous, coherent electrical contact at their interface. The bonding was good enough to serve as a mechanical support. Final anode dimensions were 6 inches long (15.24 cm) by 3 inches (7.62 cm) in diameter, with a hemispherical bottom.
The anodes were isostatically pressed from powder to have a hollow opening. Variables included the gap between the pin and green anode, the pin material, the pin diameter, and the coating thickness. Three levels of gap were produced, such that the final calculated radial interference was 10, 20 and 30 mils (0.025, 0.050 and 0.15 cm respectively). The pin material was varied between Inconel 600 and nickel. The pin diameter was varied between 0.75 and 1.5 inches (1.9 and 3.8 respectively). The coating was a copper-nickel alloy applied by flame spray, and was varied between 5 and 30 mils 0.013 and 0.15 cm respectively).
Each electrode assembly was tested under electrolysis conditions to determine the resulting resistance. The electrode assemblies were tested one at a time. Each was set in an externally heated cell with a graphite crucible and an alumina inner sidewall liner. Bath and aluminum metal were precharged as solid materials and the anode assembly was mounted above the bath. Cell and anodes were preheated simultaneously to an operating temperature of approximately 960° C. Once bath and metal were molten, the anodes were lowered into the bath and DC current was applied. Current was varied from zero to 120 amperes to allow the calculation of resistance, as shown in Table 1 below.
The data indicates that there is little difference between the Inconel 600 and the nickel pin materials. Likewise, the diameter of the pin may vary between 0.75 and 1.5 inches (1.9 and 3.8 cm respectively) with little effect. Additive coating thickness can also be varied between 5 and 30 mils (0.013 and 0.15 cm respectively) with no detrimental effect in almost all trials except Test 21 with Inconel, high interference and thick additive coating. The cell resistance was, however, slightly lower when the calculated radial interference was 20 to 30 mils (0.05 cm to 0.15 cm), compared to 10 to 20 mils (0.025 to 0.05 cm).
Having described the presently preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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4374761 | Ray | Feb 1983 | A |
4626333 | Secrist et al. | Dec 1986 | A |
5279715 | La Camera et al. | Jan 1994 | A |
6126799 | Ray et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
6264810 | Stol et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6372119 | Ray et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6416649 | Ray et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6423195 | Ray et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6423204 | Ray et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
20010035344 | D'Astolfo, Jr. et al. | Nov 2001 | A1 |
20010037946 | D'Astolfo et al. | Nov 2001 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20040195092 A1 | Oct 2004 | US |