Granted Patent B2

US 9,416,458 · App. 14/139,444 · Granted Aug 16, 2016

Inventors: Donald P. Ziegler (Lower Burrell, PA); John Secasan (Murrysville, PA)

Assignee: Alcoa Inc.

C25C1/02G01N27/041G01N33/222

Abstract

Claims (47)

1. A method, comprising:

determining a measured voltage drop across a green anode surface via an electrical resistivity device positioned to contact the green anode surface;

correlating a measured electrical resistivity from the voltage drop;

comparing the measured electrical resistivity to a target electrical resistivity; and

adjusting, based on the comparing step, at least one of anode processing parameters;

wherein adjusting is selected from the group consisting of: changing a pitch to coke ratio; changing a mixing time; changing a mixing RPM; or changing an amount of agitation via mixing; changing the anode granulometry; changing one or more of the processing parameters; and combinations thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting a processing parameter comprises:

changing:

a temperature; a cycle time; a pressure applied; a dwell time for pressure application, a vibration frequency, a vibration amplitude, a vacuum, a bellows pressure, and combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the correlating, comparing, and adjusting step are completed via a specifically programmed computer.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises indicating a quality of the green anode via the measured electrical resistivity.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: indicating a green anode quality via a specifically designed computer.

6. A method, comprising:

mixing a first composition comprising:

an amount of coke and an amount of pitch;

forming a green anode in a mold having the first composition therein;

positioning an electrical resistivity device about the green anode to define at least one electrical current path, wherein the electrical resistivity device comprises:

at least two probes adapted to contact a portion of the anode surface of the anode and configured to measure the voltage drop across the current path; and

at least one electrical current source positioned in a spaced relation from the at least two probes, wherein the current source is adapted to contact another portion of the surface, wherein the current source is configured to transmit an electrical current from a current inlet through the anode body to the current outlet

determining a measured voltage drop across the green anode surface via the electrical resistivity device;

correlating an electrical resistivity from the current and the voltage drop across the at least one electrical current path;

comparing the measured electrical resistivity to a target electrical resistivity; and

adjusting, based on the comparing step, at least one of the mixing step or the forming step.

7. The method of claim 6 , further wherein determining comprises: directing a current output of not greater than 5 amps from the current inlet to the current outlet.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the forming step comprises:

pouring the first composition into a mold, and

pressing the first composition in the mold to form a green anode.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the pressing step comprises vibrocompaction.

10. A method, comprising:

mixing a first composition comprising:

coke and pitch

forming a green anode in a mold having the first composition therein;

positioning a plurality of electrical resistivity devices about the green anode, wherein each electrical resistivity device is configured to contact an anode surface to define an electrical current path per each electrical resistivity device, wherein each electrical resistivity device comprises:

at least two probes adapted to contact a portion of the anode surface of the anode and configured to measure the voltage drop across the current path; and

at least one electrical current source positioned in a spaced relation from the at least two probes, wherein the current source is adapted to contact another portion of the surface, wherein the current source is configured to transmit an electrical current from a current inlet through the anode body to the current outlet;

determining a measured voltage drop across the anode surface for each electrical resistivity device;

correlating an electrical resistivity from the current and the voltage drop across the at least one electrical current path for each electrical resistivity device;

providing an anode map indicative of electrical resistivity which is compiled from the measured electrical resistivity measurements for various portions on the green anode;

wherein the positioning, correlating, determining, and providing steps are performed via a specifically programmed computer configured to be in electrical communication with the plurality of electrical resistivity devices;

indicating a green anode quality via the specifically designed computer; and

adjusting, based on the quality, at least one of the mixing step or forming step.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein positioning comprises: positioning at least four electrical resistivity devices onto an anode surface to obtain electrical resistivity measurements in a top, bottom, horizontal, and vertical direction along the anode surface.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein positioning further comprises positioning at least one of the plurality of electrical resistivity devices to provide an electrical resistivity measurement over two sides of the green anode via positioning one of the electrical probes and the current inlet orthogonally from the other electrical probe and the current outlet.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the positioning step is across a corner of the green anode.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the positioning step is across two opposing sides of the green anode.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the positioning, correlating, determining, and providing steps are completed on green anodes in an anode production line.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining further comprises an electrical control system, which is configured to activate each of the plurality of electrical resistivity devices sequentially to obtain electrical resistivity measurements for each electrical resistivity devices on the green anode.

Assignments (8)

Continuity (3)