Patent ID: 6540887
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
Classification: C25C

Abstract:
A cell for the electrowinning of aluminium from alumina dissolved in a fluoride-containing molten electrolyte, comprising at least one non-carbon metal-based anode having an electrically conductive metallic structure with an electrochemically active anode surface on which, during electrolysis, oxygen is anodically evolved, the metallic structure being suspended in the electrolyte with its active anode surface substantially parallel to a facing planar cathode surface, said metallic structure comprising a series of horizontally elongated anode members, each anode member having a length that is much greater than its thickness, the anode members being arranged parallel to one another, spaced apart from one another transversally in a generally coplanar arrangement, each anode member having an electrochemically active surface, the electrochemically active surfaces of the anode members forming said active anode surface that extends over an expanse whose dimensions are much greater than the thickness of the elongated anode members, the spaced apart anode members forming horizontally elongated flow-through openings for the circulation of electrolyte driven by the fast escape of anodically evolved oxygen.