Patent GB-1473887-A (GB)
Title: Electrolysis installations for electrowinning metal
IPC: G05B13/02
Filed: 1974-07-25
Abstract: 1473887 Automatic control of electrode furnaces VEREINIGTE ALUMINIUMWERKE AG and SIEMENS AG 25 July 1974 [25 July 1973] 33012/74 Heading G3R In a control arrangement for electrolysis installations for electrowinning aluminium, the resistance of the or each electrode furnace in the installation is automatically controlled in dependence upon:- the rate of change of resistance of the furnace, the change per unit time of the said rate of change, the difference between the expected amount of metal in the furnace based on continuously up-dated average values of "current yield" as defined below, and the actual amount of metal, in the furnace, and the optimum value of current yield which value depends upon the number of times within a set interval that the potential drop measured between anode and cathode fluctuates through more than a predetermined voltage change. The furnace resistance or furnace voltage may be used as a reference factor for adjusting the distance between electrodes. The specific energy consumption E sp  of a furnace is given as U/K x N 1  where U = furnace voltage and N 1  is the current yield. The "current yield" is given as N 1  = metal production/furnace current x K x t. In both   equations K is a constant which for aluminium is 0À3354; t is the time taken for metal production to be achieved. Even under normal conditions the furnace resistance varies widely from moment to moment. Depending upon the number of times in a given period that the volt drop across the furnace exceeds a predetermined limit number the required value of furnace resistance is automatically increased by a computer 2 and is reduced when the number is below the limit number. As shown, three furnaces 1 are connected in series. A D.C. transformer 3 senses the furnace current and its output is converted to pulses at a frequency indicative of the current value by a V/f converter 5. The pulses are transmitted via an optoelectrical link 35 to be counted at 6, the content of counter 6 being transferred to a store 9 every 100 secs in response to signals from a pulse generator unit 8 and trigger 19. The count in 9 represents the time integral of current from which average current is derived. The voltage across each furnace is converted to pulses by a respective V/f converter 10, which pulses are transmitted via link 35 and a switch to f dividers 11, 12. Pulses from the dividers are counted by counters 13, 14 over 100 sec periods determined by the pulse gen 8 and triggers 19, 20 and at the end of each period are transferred to stores 21, 22 respectively. The count represents the voltage/time integral in one furnace and these stores and counters constitute averaging means. A respective monitoring circuit like that illustrated, is provided for each furnace. An indicator unit 15 measures whether the volt drop across a furnace is in a range above or below a predetermined value, and trips a relay when the voltage changes range, to short circuit R16. In addition unit 15 causes by means of switch 18 the pulses to be counted either in 13 or 14, voltages in range over 7 volts being counted in 14 and indicating incipient "anode effect". Any change in range is signalled to a computer 2 which accordingly determines and indicates the number of peaks above 7 volts, the duration and instant of the anode effect and the mean voltage thereat. More than eight peaks indicates that the anode effect is unsteady. To detect the frequency of the peaks harmonics of the D.C. supply above 10 Hz are filtered out at 27 and those in a range 0-10 Hz are fed to a limit value detector 28 where those exceeding 7 volts are digitallized and are counted at a counter 27 which is zeroed every 5 mins by pulse generator 8. If within this period the counter 29 is filled a main counter 30 takes up the count. If within say 20 minutes counter 30 is filled up, indicating a drop in current yield, a store 31 is changed and a "furnace disturbed" signal is sent to the computer 2 and the operator is warned by visual signal. The contents of stores 9, 21, 22 are transferred to the computer 2 via a multi-plexer 24. The rate of change of resistance is determined from several successive measured and stored resistance values. The computer calculates the rise with time between two successive resistance gradients. Limit value factors for resistance gradient and change thereof with time are fed into the computer separately for each furnace. Blocking limits for resistance prevents displacement of the anodes when deviation exceeds e.g.  3%, and blocking limits for current prevent displacement when deviation from required value exceeds  15%. The computer records the deviations and effects correction of the required resistance value to a more suitable figure. The volt-hours and kilo-amphours are counted for each furnace and the amount of metal removed therefrom is determined, in order to determine the specific energy consumption. When commencing operation a calculated optimum current yield for each furnace, based on previous metal production, is fed into the computer. The actual current yield is determined from average values. A change in the required resistance value is effected when the difference between expected and actual metal production is say  1000 Kg of aluminium.