公开(公告)号：US11078584B2

公开(公告)日：2021-08-03

申请号：US15943171

申请日：2018-04-02

Applicant: Alcoa USA Corp.

Inventor： Xinghua Liu

IPC: C25C3/08 ,  C25C3/12 ,  C25C7/02

Abstract: In some embodiments, an exemplary electrolytic cell includes: a cathode structure disposed within an electrolysis cell, wherein the electrolysis cell is configured to produce metal on a surface of the cathode structure, wherein the cathode structure is configured to fit along a floor of the electrolysis cell, wherein the cathode structure has a sloped surface when compared to a generally horizontal plane, and wherein via the sloped surface, the cathode structure is configured to drain a metal product from the sloped surface towards a lower end of the cathode structure.

公开(公告)号：US20180209056A1

公开(公告)日：2018-07-26

申请号：US15928889

申请日：2018-03-22

Applicant: Alcoa USA Corp.

Inventor： Xinghua Liu ,  Robert A. DiMilia ,  Joseph M. Dynys ,  Jeffrey S. Martello

IPC: C25C3/20 ,  C25C3/14 ,  C25C3/08

CPC classification number: C25C3/20 ,  C25C3/08 ,  C25C3/12 ,  C25C3/14 ,  C25C7/005 ,  C25C7/025

Abstract: Broadly, the present disclosure relates to sidewall features (e.g. inner sidewall or hot face) of an electrolysis cell, which protect the sidewall from the electrolytic bath while the cell is in operation (e.g. producing metal in the electrolytic cell).

公开(公告)号：US20240295043A1

公开(公告)日：2024-09-05

申请号：US18663576

申请日：2024-05-14

Applicant: ALCOA USA CORP.

Inventor： Xinghua Liu

IPC: C25C3/08 ,  C25C3/14

CPC classification number: C25C3/08 ,  C25C3/14

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method for purifying aluminum. The method includes producing purified aluminum from an aluminum feedstock in an aluminum purification cell and flowing the purified aluminum from a cell chamber of the aluminum purification cell to a purified metal reservoir via an overflow passage, wherein the purified metal reservoir is located internal to the aluminum purification cell. In some embodiments, a feeding reservoir is located internal to the aluminum purification cell and can be accessed via a feeding port located in a refractory top cover of the cell chamber. In some embodiments, the method includes removing the purified aluminum from the purified metal reservoir via a tapping port located in a refractory top cover of the cell chamber. In some embodiments, concomitant with the removing step, the method includes restricting or preventing oxidation of the purified aluminum.

公开(公告)号：US20240286966A1

公开(公告)日：2024-08-29

申请号：US18657321

申请日：2024-05-07

Applicant: ALCOA USA CORP.

Inventor： Xinghua Liu ,  Benjamin D. Mosser

IPC: C04B41/88 ,  C04B35/58 ,  C04B35/64 ,  C25C7/02

CPC classification number: C04B41/88 ,  C04B35/58071 ,  C04B35/64 ,  C25C7/02 ,  C04B2235/3813 ,  C04B2235/945

Abstract: The application is directed to products and methods related to a TiB2 substrate with a directing feature, wherein the directing feature is configured to direct TiB2 wettable material in a predetermined direction. In some embodiments, the TiB2 substrate is at least partially covered with solid aluminum metal.

公开(公告)号：US20170275773A1

公开(公告)日：2017-09-28

申请号：US15469318

申请日：2017-03-24

Applicant: Alcoa USA Corp

Inventor： Xinghua Liu

IPC: C25C3/08 ,  C25C3/12

CPC classification number: C25C3/08 ,  C25C3/10 ,  C25C3/12 ,  C25C7/007 ,  C25C7/06

Abstract: In one embodiment, an electrolytic cell for the production of aluminum from alumina includes: at least one anode module having a plurality of anodes; at least one cathode module, opposing the anode module, wherein the at least one cathode module comprises a plurality of cathodes, wherein the plurality of anodes are suspended above the cathode module and extending downwards towards the cathode module, wherein the plurality of cathodes are positioned extending upwards towards the anode module, wherein each of the plurality of anodes and each of the plurality of cathodes are alternatingly positioned, wherein the plurality of anodes is selectively positionable in a horizontal direction relative to adjacent cathodes, wherein the anode module is selectively positionable in a vertical direction relative to the cathode module, and wherein a portion of each of the anode electrodes overlap a portion of adjacent cathodes.

公开(公告)号：US20240287695A1

公开(公告)日：2024-08-29

申请号：US18657047

申请日：2024-05-07

Applicant: ALCOA USA CORP.

Inventor： Benjamin D. Mosser ,  Xinghua Liu

IPC: C25C7/02 ,  C25C3/08 ,  C25C3/12

CPC classification number: C25C7/025 ,  C25C3/08 ,  C25C3/12

Abstract: The application is directed to products and methods related to an aluminum purification cell with a non-carbonaceous substrate with a directing feature. The directing feature can be configured to direct a wettable material in a predetermined direction. The non-carbonaceous substrate can be at least partially covered with solid aluminum metal. The wettable material can be aluminum metal.

公开(公告)号：US20210355592A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-18

申请号：US17390230

申请日：2021-07-30

Applicant: ALCOA USA CORP.

Inventor： Xinghua Liu ,  Benjamin D. Mosser

IPC: C25C7/02 ,  C25C1/02 ,  C25D3/38

Abstract: New copper-coated titanium diboride electrodes are disclosed. The copper-coated titanium diboride electrodes may be used in an aluminum electrolysis cell. In one embodiment, a method includes installing the copper-coated titanium diboride electrode in the aluminum electrolysis cell and operating the aluminum electrolysis cell. During start-up, the aluminum electrolysis cell may be preheated and a bath may be formed from a molten electrolyte. Alumina (Al2O3) may in the added to the bath and reduced to aluminum metal. At least some of the copper film of the copper-coated titanium diboride electrode may be replaced by an aluminum film, thereby forming an aluminum-wetted titanium diboride electrode.

公开(公告)号：US20190032232A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-31

申请号：US16150677

申请日：2018-10-03

Applicant: Alcoa USA Corp.

Inventor： Xinghua Liu ,  Robert A. DiMilia ,  Joseph M. Dynys ,  Jeffrey S. Martello

IPC: C25C3/08 ,  C25C3/14 ,  C25C7/06 ,  C25C7/00

Abstract: Broadly, the present disclosure relates to sidewall features (e.g. inner sidewall or hot face) of an electrolysis cell, which protect the sidewall from the electrolytic bath while the cell is in operation (e.g. producing metal in the electrolytic cell).

公开(公告)号：US20180282889A1

公开(公告)日：2018-10-04

申请号：US15943171

申请日：2018-04-02

Applicant: Alcoa USA Corp.

Inventor： Xinghua Liu

IPC: C25C3/12 ,  C25C7/02

Abstract: In some embodiments, an exemplary electrolytic cell includes: a cathode structure disposed within an electrolysis cell, wherein the electrolysis cell is configured to produce metal on a surface of the cathode structure, wherein the cathode structure is configured to fit along a floor of the electrolysis cell, wherein the cathode structure has a sloped surface when compared to a generally horizontal plane, and wherein via the sloped surface, the cathode structure is configured to drain a metal product from the sloped surface towards a lower end of the cathode structure.

公开(公告)号：US11001931B2

公开(公告)日：2021-05-11

申请号：US16547454

申请日：2019-08-21

Applicant: ALCOA USA CORP.

Inventor： David H. DeYoung ,  Xinghua Liu ,  Brent L. Mydland ,  James Wiswall

IPC: C25C3/24 ,  C25C3/18 ,  C25C3/12 ,  C25C3/14 ,  C25C7/00 ,  C25C7/02 ,  B22D21/00 ,  C25C3/08

Abstract: The application is directed towards methods for purifying an aluminum feedstock material. A method provides: (a) feeding an aluminum feedstock into a cell (b) directing an electric current into an anode through an electrolyte and into a cathode, wherein the anode comprises an elongate vertical anode, and wherein the cathode comprises an elongate vertical cathode, wherein the anode and cathode are configured to extend into the electrolyte zone, such that within the electrolyte zone the anode and cathode are configured with an anode-cathode overlap and an anode-cathode distance; and producing some purified aluminum product from the aluminum feedstock.