WO-2026092497-A1 - LIFTING/LOWERING DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING SPACING BETWEEN ANODE ROD AND ALUMINA CRUST

WO2026092497A1WO 2026092497 A1WO2026092497 A1WO 2026092497A1WO-2026092497-A1

Abstract

Disclosed in the present invention is a lifting/lowering device for adjusting the spacing between an anode rod and an alumina crust, comprising at least one continuous anode, a clamping frame being sleeved on the periphery of the continuous anode. A plurality of anode rods are provided between the clamping frame and the continuous anode; a pressing mechanism for making the anode rods contact the continuous anode is mounted on the clamping frame; a lifting/lowering mechanism is provided at the upper end of the clamping frame; the lifting mechanism comprises a first driver, a second driver and a lifter; a lifter joint connected to the second driver is provided at the upper portion of an output shaft of the lifter; an anode busbar is provided on the outer sides of the anode rods; a soft belt connected to the anode busbar and the anode rod closest thereto is provided therebetween. The present invention ensures the synchronization of continuous anodes, improves the accuracy of controlling electrode spacings and cell voltages, keeps the thermal balance of electrolytic cells, reduces energy consumption, improves current efficiency, and completely solves technical problems of controlling electrode spacings and adjusting the spacings between anode rods and alumina crusts.

Inventors

LV, Hanfang

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251029
Priority Date: 20241030

Claims (10)

A lifting device for adjusting the distance between an anode guide rod and an alumina shell includes at least one continuous anode, at least one clamping frame is sleeved around the continuous anode, a plurality of anode guide rods are arranged between the clamping frame and the continuous anode, at least one clamping mechanism is installed on the clamping frame or the anode guide rods to make the anode guide rods contact the continuous anode, and at least one lifting mechanism is provided on the clamping frame. The lifting mechanism includes a first driver, a second driver and a plurality of lifting machines, a lifting machine joint connected to the second driver is provided on the upper part of the output shaft of the lifting machine and/or on the drive shaft, an anode busbar is provided on the outer side of the anode guide rods, and a flexible strap connected to both is provided between the anode busbar and at least one anode guide rod.
A lifting device for adjusting the spacing between the anode guide rod and the alumina shell according to claim 1, characterized in that: the lifting machine includes a lifting machine output shaft, the lifting machine is connected to the first driver of the lifting anode guide rod and the continuous anode through a transmission component, the lower part of the lifting machine output shaft is connected to the anode guide rod, or the lower part of the lifting machine output shaft is connected to the anode guide rod through a connector; the lifting machine is connected to a corresponding second driver, when the second driver is running, the installed first driver remains stationary; when the first driver is running, the lifting machine connector is separated from the second driver.
A lifting device for adjusting the distance between the anode guide rod and the alumina shell according to claim 1, characterized in that: the lifting machine connector is matched with the second drive connector.
A lifting device for adjusting the spacing between the anode guide rod and the alumina shell according to claim 2, characterized in that: the connector includes a first connector and a second connector, the first connector being connected to the second connector, or the first connector being connected to the second connector via a connecting plate or a rotator; the first connector being connected to the anode guide rod, or the first connector being connected to the anode guide rod via a lifting point; the second connector being connected to the output shaft of the lifting machine via a rotator, or the second connector being connected to the output shaft of the lifting machine.
A lifting device for adjusting the spacing between the anode guide rod and the alumina shell according to claim 2, characterized in that: the anode guide rod includes a first anode guide rod and a second anode guide rod or a first anode guide rod and a second anode guide rod, the second anode guide rod includes an upper guide rod and a lower guide rod connected to the upper guide rod, the upper guide rod is connected to the second end of the flexible strip, the lower guide rod is connected to the first connecting member of the connector, and the current on the flexible strip is conducted to the lower guide rod through the upper guide rod; or the upper guide rod is connected to the first connecting member of the connector, and the lower guide rod is connected to the second end of the flexible strip.
A lifting device for adjusting the distance between the anode guide rod and the alumina shell according to claim 1, characterized in that: the anode busbar includes an input-side anode busbar, an output-side anode busbar, or an input-side anode busbar and an output-side anode busbar installed around the anode guide rod, wherein the input-side anode busbar is connected to the first end of the flexible strip, or the output-side anode busbar is connected to the first end of the flexible strip, or both the input-side anode busbar and the output-side anode busbar are connected to the first end of the flexible strip.
A lifting device for adjusting the distance between the anode guide rod and the alumina shell according to claim 1, characterized in that: the pressing mechanism includes a spring assembly vertically installed on the clamping frame, a cylinder is installed at the upper end or front of the spring assembly, the spring assembly or the cylinder and the spring assembly are connected to a linkage mechanism for adjusting the pressure of the anode guide rod, the linkage mechanism is connected to a roller assembly, the roller assembly contacts the anode guide rod and presses the anode guide rod onto the continuous anode.
A lifting device for adjusting the distance between the anode guide rod and the alumina shell according to claim 1, characterized in that: the clamping frame includes an upper beam, a lower beam and a support member, and the support member is connected between the upper beam and the lower beam; or the support member is connected between the upper beam and the lower beam, and at least one window is provided between the upper beam, the lower beam and the support member or on the support member.
According to claim 8, a lifting device for adjusting the distance between the anode guide rod and the alumina shell is characterized in that: the clamping frame is installed above the cathode of the electrolytic cell by a plurality of pillars.
According to claim 8, a lifting device for adjusting the distance between the anode guide rod and the alumina shell is characterized in that: the second end of the soft belt passes over the top surface of the upper beam of the clamping frame and is connected to the anode guide rod, or the second end of the soft belt passes over the bottom surface of the lower beam of the clamping frame and is connected to the anode guide rod, or the second end of the soft belt passes through the window on the clamping frame and is connected to the anode guide rod.

Description

A lifting device for adjusting the spacing between the anode guide rod and the alumina junction shell. Technical Field This invention relates to auxiliary devices for aluminum electrolysis, specifically a lifting device for adjusting the distance between the anode guide rod and the alumina shell. Background Technology During electrolysis, the anode guide rod is pressed tightly around the anode and positioned above the alumina crust. The bottom of the anode is immersed in liquid electrolyte and continuously consumed, causing the distance between the anode and cathode (referred to as the electrode gap) to gradually increase. To maintain the thermal balance of the electrolytic cell, the electrode gap must remain stable. The anode lifting device drives the anode and anode guide rod downwards together. Because the position of the alumina crust remains essentially unchanged for a certain period, the distance between the anode guide rod and the alumina crust decreases. When the anode guide rod contacts the alumina crust, due to the high strength and intact state of the crust, the anode guide rod is stuck above the alumina crust and cannot move downwards. With the anode guide rod pressed tightly around the anode, downward movement of the anode is prevented, and the electrode gap cannot be kept stable. To avoid affecting the normal adjustment of the electrode gap, while keeping the anode stationary (i.e., with a stable electrode gap), the anode guide rod adjacent to the alumina crust is lifted in advance. When lifting the anode guide rods, it is necessary to reduce or release the pressure of the anode guide rods on the anode. However, if all or most of the anode guide rods are released from the anode, the anode will slip out of the anode guide rods, which can easily cause a major accident. Therefore, while holding the anode with multiple anode guide rods, first release the clamping of one (group of) anode guide rods on the anode, and then lift that anode guide rod (group of) anode guide rods individually along the anode surface to the designated position. In this way, lift all anode guide rods located at the lowest position (closest to the alumina crust) to the designated position (including the highest position and higher positions). Existing anode lifting devices generally include screw-lifting mechanisms and ball screw-triangular plate lifting mechanisms, which lack the function of adjusting the distance between the anode guide rod and the alumina shell. When the anode guide rod is stuck above the alumina shell, there is a risk that the electrode distance cannot be adjusted in time. To solve this technical problem, a clutch and steering box device are added to the existing anode lifting device. This can meet the requirements of synchronous lifting of the anode and anode guide rod, and can also adjust the distance between the anode guide rod and the alumina shell within the process requirements while keeping the anode stationary. However, in working environments with high temperature, high magnetic field, high dust, heavy load, and easy deformation of support components, the function of the clutch deteriorates, the contact between the clutch driving and driven parts is unstable, the failure rate is high, and there are also many control points, which affect the accuracy of synchronous lifting of the anode and electrode distance control, affecting the installation, safe operation and maintenance of existing electrolytic cells, and requiring periodic lifting of the anode busbar. The existing anode guide rod lifting device mainly includes a driver, corner steering boxes, couplings, drive shafts, steering boxes, clutches, and a lifting platform. The drive shafts and couplings connect adjacent steering boxes, which are connected to the lifting platform via clutches. The lifting platform connects to the anode guide rods. When the pitch needs to be adjusted, all clutches are engaged first. All steering boxes are connected to all lifting platforms via the engaged clutches. The operating anode lifting device then lifts all anode guide rods and anodes to the designated position. When only a portion of the anode guide rod needs to be lifted, only the clutch on the lifting platform connected to that anode guide rod is engaged. The driver is then activated, driving the drive shaft and steering boxes. The engaged lifting platform lifts the anode guide rod to the designated position. This process is repeated until all the anode guide rods to be lifted are in the designated position. Because multiple steering boxes, clutches, and associated wiring and control systems are installed, the device occupies considerable space. In situations where space above the electrolytic cell is limited, this causes significant conflicts between operation and maintenance. Furthermore, it suffers from cumbersome control, frequent clutch operation leading to rapid wear and tear, and easy damage. Summary of the Invention To address the problems of exis