US 12,006,581 B2
Systems and methods for preventing thermite reactions in electrolytic cells
Leroy E. D'Astolfo, Jr., Lower Burrell, PA (US); William J. Steiner, Acme, PA (US); Eric C. Moreland, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Robert L. Kozarek, Apollo, PA (US); and Yimin Ruan, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Assigned to ELYSIS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, Montreal (CA)
Filed by ELYSIS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, Montreal (CA)
Filed on May 24, 2018, as Appl. No. 15/988,115.
Application 15/988,115 is a continuation of application No. 13/987,650, filed on Aug. 19, 2013, granted, now 9,982,355, issued on May 29, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/684,212, filed on Aug. 17, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/800,649, filed on Mar. 15, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2022/0316083 A1, Oct. 6, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C25C 3/20 (2006.01); C25C 7/06 (2006.01)
CPC C25C 3/20 (2013.01) [C25C 7/06 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for the detection and/or prevention of thermite reactions in an electrolytic cell comprising a cathode, an anode assembly comprising one or more anode distributor plates and an electrolytic bath, the system comprising:
one or more voltage probes configured to measure a voltage across an anode distributor plate, wherein the one or more voltage probes are attached to only one anode assembly at one or more respective locations to detect voltage information indicative of a thermite reaction, wherein the anode distributor plate is configured to attach to and electrically communicate with a group of metal oxide anodes;
a monitoring device operatively connected to the one or more voltage probes and configured to:
receive the voltage information from the one or more voltage probes,
compare the voltage information to a threshold voltage drop, wherein the threshold voltage drop is a voltage drop level previously associated with a thermite reaction, wherein the threshold voltage drop is a rate of voltage drop increase, and
generate a thermite response signal when the voltage information matches or exceeds the threshold voltage; and
a control system in communication with the monitoring device and configured to cause, in response to the thermite response signal, at least one adjustment in at least one operational parameter of the electrolytic cell to suppress the thermite reaction.