Patents Assigned to Rio Tinto International Limited
  • Patent number: 9631289
    Abstract: A method for starting up an electrolytic cell (20) for aluminum production having a cathode block (26) with an upper surface (32), the method comprising: disposing contact resistance material (46) over the upper surface (32) of the cathode block (26); lowering a plurality of anodes (28) to abut the contact resistance material (46); filling the electrolytic cell (20) and covering the anodes (28) with solid electrolyte material (72) comprising crushed electrolytic bath material, cryolite, or mixtures thereof; delivering electrical current to the anodes (28) to at least partially melt the solid electrolyte material (72) and raising the anodes (28) when a predetermined depth of molten electrolyte material has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Rio Tinto International Limited
    Inventors: Robert Cayouette, François Laplante