Abstract: It is disclosed a system and process for starting up an electrolytic cell. The system and process are particularly adapted for preheating an electrolytic cell or pot having cathodes before installing preheated anodes in the cell, for the production of a metal (e.g. aluminum). The system comprises one or more electrical heaters installed in the cell in place of the anode assemblies and can be used with a dry bath or a liquid melted bath (e.g. cryolite). The cell is preferably preheated by as many cell preheaters as there are anode assemblies. The cell preheater is preferably powered by current available in the pot's busbar. The invention is environmentally friendly as being preferably adapted for preheating a cell working with inert or oxygen-evolving anodes. Furthermore, the starting up process allows optimizing/reducing the time necessary for starting up the electrolytic cell, while securing the materials located inside the cell.

Abstract: An apparatus, also named transfer box or TB, for conveying an anode assembly outside of an electrolyte cell is described. An apparatus, also named cell preheater lifting beam or CPLB, for conveying an anode assembly or a cell pre-heater outside of an electrolyte cell is also disclosed. TB and CPLB are conjointly used for starting up the electrolytic cell or for replacing a spent anode assembly while maintaining the production of non-ferrous metal, such as aluminum or aluminium. The thermal insulation of the TB allows maintaining the anode temperature homogeneity and preventing thermal shocks when introducing the inert anodes into the hot electrolytic bath. TN and CPLB allow accurate positioning of anode assemblies or cell-preheaters over the electrolysis cell before achieving mechanical and electrical connections of the anode assembly or the cell pre-heater to the electrolysis cell. Several related methods for the operation of an electrolytic cell are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus, also named transfer box or TB, for conveying an anode assembly outside of an electrolyte cell is described. An apparatus, also named cell preheater lifting beam or CPLB, for conveying an anode assembly or a cell pre-heater outside of an electrolyte cell is also disclosed. TB and CPLB are conjointly used for starting up the electrolytic cell or for replacing a spent anode assembly while maintaining the production of non-ferrous metal, such as aluminum or aluminium. The thermal insulation of the TB allows maintaining the anode temperature homogeneity and preventing thermal shocks when introducing the inert anodes into the hot electrolytic bath. TN and CPLB allow accurate positioning of anode assemblies or cell-preheaters over the electrolysis cell before achieving mechanical and electrical connections of the anode assembly or the cell pre-heater to the electrolysis cell. Several related methods for the operation of an electrolytic cell are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a superstructure for a tank for the production of aluminum using the Hall-Heroult process by the electrolysis of alumina in molten cryolite, the tank being formed by a rigid metal heat-insulated casing of elongate parallelepipedic shape, the two ends of which are referred to as heads, and a superstructure formed by at least one rigid beam disposed along the long length of the casing, supporting in particular the anodic bus and the anodes and resting at its two ends on supports disposed at the two head ends of the tank, said superstructure being characterized in that each rigid beam is supported on at least one intermediate gantry in the central part thereof. The gantry may comprise four legs so as to constitute an inherently stable structure or it may be formed by two half-elements each provided with two legs. Preferably, each rigid beam is divided into two equal portions, the central ends of which are supported on the gantry.