Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and a process that can be used to remove sulfur dioxide other environmentally hazardous contaminants from a gaseous waste stream while at the same time providing a source of purified water. The process can be used for the desalination of sea or brackish water, or for the concentration of contaminated waste water. The method comprises feeding a gaseous waste stream that comprises sulfur dioxide into a diffusion tower. Feed water is sprayed onto a packing material in the diffusion tower to form a thin film of feed water on a surface of the packing material. Sulfur dioxide diffuses into the thin film of feed water to form water that contains sulfur dioxide. The gaseous waste stream is simultaneously humidified. The humidified gaseous waste stream is then subjected to direct contact condensation to obtain purified water.

Abstract: The instant disclosure is directed towards methods of determining green electrode quality via electrical resistivity measurements on green electrode forms (e.g. prior to baking) The instant disclosure is directed towards methods of making electrodes, utilizing the electrical resistivity measurement(s) from green anodes to monitor and if necessary, adjust electrode processing parameters (e.g. composition, mixing parameters, forming parameters, or baking parameters).

Abstract: The instant disclosure is directed towards methods of determining green electrode quality via electrical resistivity measurements on green electrode forms (e.g. prior to baking) The instant disclosure is directed towards methods of making electrodes, utilizing the electrical resistivity measurement(s) from green anodes to monitor and if necessary, adjust electrode processing parameters (e.g. composition, mixing parameters, forming parameters, or baking parameters).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and apparatus for extracting molten liquid from an electrolysis cell. In one embodiment, a system includes a container and an electrical characteristic detector. The container comprises a body adapted to contain molten liquid and a spout. The spout includes a base portion, a tip portion and a passageway connecting the base portion to the tip portion. The electrical characteristic detector is coupled to the container and is configured to determine an electrical characteristic associated with the molten liquid as the molten liquid passes into the body of the container via the passageway. A process parameter associated with the removal of the molten liquid from the container may be changed when it is determined that an electrical characteristic associated with the molten liquid has achieved a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for facilitating removal of molten metal from an electrolysis cell are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a container and an electrical source coupled to the container. The electrical source may be configured to provide complementary current to a spout of the container. This complementary current may create a complementary electromagnetic field at least proximal a tip portion of the spout. When the spout of the container receives the complementary current, and when the spout is in liquid communication with the molten liquid of the electrolysis cell, the complementary electromagnetic field of the complementary current may at least partially assist to increase the flow of molten metal into the spout of the container.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and a process that can be used to remove sulfur dioxide other environmentally hazardous contaminants from a gaseous waste stream while at the same time providing a source of purified water. The process can be used for the desalination of sea or brackish water, or for the concentration of contaminated waste water. The method comprises feeding a gaseous waste stream that comprises sulfur dioxide into a diffusion tower. Feed water is sprayed onto a packing material in the diffusion tower to form a thin film of feed water on a surface of the packing material. Sulfur dioxide diffuses into the thin film of feed water to form water that contains sulfur dioxide. The gaseous waste stream is simultaneously humidified. The humidified gaseous waste stream is then subjected to direct contact condensation to obtain purified water.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for facilitating removal of molten metal from an electrolysis cell are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a container and an electrical source coupled to the container. The electrical source may be configured to provide complementary current to a spout of the container. This complementary current may create a complementary electromagnetic field at least proximal a tip portion of the spout. When the spout of the container receives the complementary current, and when the spout is in liquid communication with the molten liquid of the electrolysis cell, the complementary electromagnetic field of the complementary current may at least partially assist to increase the flow of molten metal into the spout of the container.

Abstract: A sensing system for sensing conditions or characteristics associated with a process or thing. The sensing system includes one or more energy converters and a sensor, which are coupled to the process or thing. A node is coupled to the sensor and the energy-converter, and the node is powered by output from the energy converter. In a more specific embodiment, the node includes a controller that implements one or more routines for selectively powering a wireless transmitter of the node based on a predetermined condition. The predetermined condition may specify that sensor output values are within a predetermined range or are below or above a predetermined threshold. Alternatively, the predetermined condition may specify that electrical energy output from the energy converter is below a predetermined threshold. A remote computer may be wirelessly connected to node and may include software and/or hardware that is adapted to process information output by the sensor and relayed to the computer via the node.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and apparatus for extracting molten liquid from an electrolysis cell. In one embodiment, a system includes a container and an electrical characteristic detector. The container comprises a body adapted to contain molten liquid and a spout. The spout includes a base portion, a tip portion and a passageway connecting the base portion to the tip portion. The electrical characteristic detector is coupled to the container and is configured to determine an electrical characteristic associated with the molten liquid as the molten liquid passes into the body of the container via the passageway. A process parameter associated with the removal of the molten liquid from the container may be changed when it is determined that an electrical characteristic associated with the molten liquid has achieved a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A sensing system for sensing conditions or characteristics associated with a process or thing. The sensing system includes one or more energy converters and a sensor, which are coupled to the process or thing. A node is coupled to the sensor and the energy-converter, and the node is powered by output from the energy converter. In a more specific embodiment, the node includes a controller that implements one or more routines for selectively powering a wireless transmitter of the node based on a predetermined condition. The predetermined condition may specify that sensor output values are within a predetermined range or are below or above a predetermined threshold. Alternatively, the predetermined condition may specify that electrical energy output from the energy converter is below a predetermined threshold. A remote computer may be wirelessly connected to node and may include software and/or hardware that is adapted to process information output by the sensor and relayed to the computer via the node.

Abstract: A sensing system for sensing conditions or characteristics associated with a process or thing. The sensing system includes one or more energy converters and a sensor, which are coupled to the process or thing. A node is coupled to the sensor and the energy-converter, and the node is powered by output from the energy converter. In a more specific embodiment, the node includes a controller that implements one or more routines for selectively powering a wireless transmitter of the node based on a predetermined condition. The predetermined condition may specify that sensor output values are within a predetermined range or are below or above a predetermined threshold. Alternatively, the predetermined condition may specify that electrical energy output from the energy converter is below a predetermined threshold. A remote computer may be wirelessly connected to node and may include software and/or hardware that is adapted to process information output by the sensor and relayed to the computer via the node.

Abstract: A heat exchanger suitable for long term use in the unfiltered hot exhaust gas of an aluminum smelter is disclosed. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger comprises fluid carrying tubes connected together with web members to form a cylindrical shell. A header located at each end of the cylindrical shell is provided for feeding fluid to and from the tubes of the heat exchanger. Shrouds can be placed over the headers to affect hot gas turbulence and help minimize scaling. The surfaces of the cylindrical shell, when in un-scrubbed exhaust gas of an aluminum smelter, will be in contact with particles and/or dust and possibly caustic fumes and, therefore, may be treated with a relevant slip coating selected, for example, from the Teflon family.

Abstract: A novel electrolytic reduction cell apparatus and method are disclosed for the production of aluminum, including a copper insert inside the cathode collector bar. In one aspect, a melting allowance slot is provided. In one aspect, the copper insert resides in a slot in the collector bar, the slot having a width dimension of 0.001-0.009 inch (0.0025-0.00229 cm) or 0.1%-0.9% more than the dimension of the copper insert. In one aspect, the copper insert resides in a slot in the collector bar, the slot having a length dimension of 0.25-0.97 inch (0.635-2.5 cm) or 0.37-1.44% more than the dimension of the copper insert. In one aspect, the copper insert is located from a point proximate about 2 inches (5 cm) from the cell center to a point proximate about 69.35 inches (176 cm) from the cell center towards the first cell wall. In one aspect, the copper insert cross-section is about 0.042 to about 0.125 times the cross-sectional area of the cathode collector bar.

Abstract: A process for electrowinning metal in a low temperature melt is disclosed. The process utilizes an inert anode for the production of metal such as aluminum using low surface area anodes at high current densities.

Abstract: A process for electrowinning metal in a low temperature melt is disclosed. The process utilizes an inert anode for the production of metal such as aluminum using low surface area anodes at high current densities.