Aluminum reference electrode

Patent · Tue Aug 16 00:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:7067429

Sadoway, D R

A stable reference electrode is described for use in monitoring and controlling the process of electrolytic reduction of a metal. In the case of Hall cell reduction of aluminum, the reference electrode comprises a pool of molten aluminum and a solution of molten cryolite, Na[sub 3]AlF[sub 6], wherein the electrical connection to the molten aluminum does not contact the highly corrosive molten salt solution. This is accomplished by altering the density of either the aluminum (decreasing the density) or the electrolyte (increasing the density) so that the aluminum floats on top of the molten salt solution. 1 fig.

• DOE Contract Number: FG07-83ID12380
• Assignee: Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge, MA (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 4764257; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 6-783776
• OSTI ID: 7067429
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 3 Oct 1985
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ELECTROLYSIS
REDUCTION
ELECTRODES
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ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
MONITORING
ON-LINE MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
LYSIS
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