Process and apparatus for positioning replacement anodes in electrolytic cells

摘要

A spent anode is replaced with a new anode in an electrolysis cell having an anode bus bar and an anode rod contacting the bus bar. A desired distance (D 4 ) from the bus bar to a reference point on or adjacent to an anode rod for the new anode is calculated, the spent anode is replaced with a new anode so that the reference point on the new anode rod is spaced from the bus bar by an actual distance (D 5 ), and the actual distance (D 5 ) is measured at least once by means of a vision system. The actual distance (D 5 ) is preferably adjusted using a feedback control loop in a computer so that D 5 approaches the desired distance (D 4 ).