Pot Tending Machine: Specialized Equipment for Electrolytic Aluminum Production
Pot tending machine is designed for large-scale prebaked anode electrolytic aluminum production lines. It operates reliably in harsh environments with high temperatures, strong magnetic fields, and HF corrosive gas, alumina powder, fluoride salts, and carbon dust. Integrating key functions such as anode replacement, busbar lifting, electrolytic cell maintenance, aluminum ladle handling, residue removal, and electrolyte crust breaking, it is essential equipment for core process operations in aluminum smelting workshops.
Pot Tending Machine Description
The pot tending machine is a key process equipment in large-scale prebaked anode aluminum electrolysis production. It is designed to operate under harsh environments, including high temperatures, high currents, strong magnetic fields, heavy dust, and HF gas. It can perform the following process operations for prebaked anode electrolysis cells:
- Shelling: Opening electrolyte crusts.
- Material Charging: Add alumina, fluoride salts, and other electrolyte materials to the electrolysis cell.
- Anode Changing: Unscrew the lifting and lowering to tighten the screw clamp, lift off the residual anode, and replace with a new anode.
- Slag Removal: Remove residual anode pieces and crusts from the anode pits to make room for new anodes.
- Aluminum Tapping: Perform vacuum extraction, aluminum tapping, lifting, and measurement (single batch and cumulative), display data, and implement printing.
- Anode Busbar Lifting: Lift the anode busbar using the busbar lifting frame.
- Maintenance: Install and maintain the upper structure and lower shell of the electrolysis cell, as well as perform miscellaneous lifting operations.
The pot tending machine consists of a main traveling mechanism, bridge, tool trolley, aluminum tapping trolley, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, and electrical control system. Its core is the tool trolley, which comprises the trolley traveling mechanism, trolley frame, tool rotation mechanism, crust-beating mechanism, anode replacement mechanism, slag-fishing mechanism, material charging mechanism, and operator cabin rotation mechanism.
The entire system is controlled via variable frequency drive (VFD) combined with PLC. Operations can be performed either from the operator cabin or via remote control; the two modes can work in coordination or independently.
This electrolytic aluminum multifunctional crane has been widely applied in the electrolytic aluminum industry and is highly praised by users.
Main Components
- Crane Traveling Mechanism: Equipped with VFD speed regulation for smooth operation. It drives the crane to move longitudinally along the electrolytic workshop, covering the operation area of multiple electrolytic cells.
- Bridge Frame: The bridge supports the entire machine structure and mainly includes the main girder and end girders. Both the main and end girders adopt a box-type structure. All steel plates are shot-blasted for rust removal, and weld seams are inspected through radiographic testing to ensure structural reliability.
- Tool Trolley: The tool trolley is capable of performing key process operations such as anode replacement, crust breaking, slag removal, and material discharge. The trolley travel system adopts a left–right symmetrical drive configuration and is equipped with motors from well-known brands such as SEW, providing a travel speed of 0–30 m/min. It is fitted with horizontal guide wheels and safety locking mechanisms to ensure stable and reliable travel along the rails.
- Aluminum Tapping Trolley: Designed for extracting and transferring molten aluminum, typically equipped with a dedicated vacuum tapping and lifting device to ensure the safe handling of high-temperature molten aluminum.
- Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems: Provide power for each actuator involved in various process operations.
- Electrical Control System: Features PLC control, VFD speed regulation, and multiple safety protections. Some advanced models support remote monitoring and automated operation to enhance precision and safety.
Technical Specifications
| Span (m) | 22.5 | 25.5 | 28.5 | 28.5 | 31.5 | 34.5 | |
| Crane Traveling Speed (m/min) | 2~60 | 2~60 | 2~60 | 2~60 | 2~60 | 2~60 | |
| Tool Trolley | Traveling Speed (m/min) | 2~30 | 2~30 | 2~30 | 2~30 | 2~30 | 2~30 |
| Rotation Speed (rpm) | 0.31~3.1 | 0.31~3.1 | 0.31~3.1 | 0.31~3.1 | 0.31~3.1 | 0.31~3.1 | |
| Cabin Rotation Speed (rpm) | 0.2~2 | 0.2~2 | 0.2~2 | 0.2~2 | 0.2~2 | 0.2~2 | |
| Aluminum Tapping Trolley | Traveling Speed (m/min) | 2~30 | 2~30 | 2~30 | 2~30 | 2~30 | 2~30 |
| Lifting Capacity (t) | 16 | 20 | 20 | 32 | 32 | 32 | |
| Lifting Speed (m/min) | 1~5 | 1~5 | 1~5 | 1~4.8 | 1~4.8 | 1~4.8 | |
| Fluoride Salt Charging Trolley | Traveling Speed (m/min) | 3~30 | 3~30 | 3~30 | – | – | – |
| Pipe Lifting Speed (m/min) | 0.6~6 | 0.6~6 | 0.6~6 | 0.6~6 | 0.6~6 | 0.6~6 | |
| Fixed Insulated Electric Hoist | Capacity (t) | 2×12.5 | 2×12.5 | 2×12.5 | 2×25 | 2×25 | 2×25 |
| Crust-Beating | Impact Energy (J) | 98 | 98 | 98 | 98 | 98 | 98 |
| Frequency (times/min) | 1200 | 1200 | 1200 | 1200 | 1200 | 1200 | |
| Anode Changing | Chuck Lifting Speed (m/min) | 1/9 | 1/9 | 1/9 | 1/9 | 1/9 | 1/9 |
| Screw Head Lifting Speed (m/min) | 1/10 | 1/10 | 1/10 | 1/10 | 1/10 | 1/10 | |
| Screw Head Torque (N.m) | 250~375 | 250~375 | 250~375 | 250~375 | 250~375 | 250~375 | |
| Slag-Fishing | Lifting Speed (m/min) | 0.9/9 | 0.9/9 | 0.9/9 | 0.9/9 | 0.9/9 | 0.9/9 |
| Material Discharging | Pipe Lifting Speed (m/min) | 1.3~13 | 1.3~13 | 1.3~13 | 1.3~13 | 1.3~13 | 1.3~13 |
| Pipe Rotation Speed (m/min) | 0.4~4 | 0.4~4 | 0.4~4 | 0.4~4 | 0.4~4 | 0.4~4 | |
Case
Project
Guangxi Coal–Power–Aluminum Integrated Project – 300 kt/a Molten Aluminum Handling
Operating Conditions
- Environment: high-temperature molten salts, high current, strong magnetic field, heavy dust, hydrogen fluoride atmosphere
- Operating mode: 24 hours/day, 365 days/year, duty rate 65%, with normal maintenance allowed
- Technical requirements: suitable for 420 kA electrolytic cell plant conditions and site conditions
- Power supply: AC 380 V ±10%, 50 Hz ±2 Hz, three-phase four-wire
- Ambient temperature: −5°C to +55°C
- Key temperatures:
- Maximum process operating temperature: +65°C
- Cell shell surface temperature: 600–750°C
- Temperature at 1 m from cell shell: 150°C
- Electrolyte temperature: 960–1000°C
- Maximum magnetic field: 150 GS
Technical Parameters
Pot Tending Machine
- Span: 28 m
- Work duty: M8
- Travel speed: 8–55 m/min, variable-frequency drive
- Drive unit: SEW drive system
Tool Trolley
- Work duty: M7
- Travel speed: 5–30 m/min, VFD control
- Drive unit: SEW drive system
- Tool rotation: ±185°, rotation speed 3.1 r/min, hydraulic motor–driven
- Dual Anode Changing Device:
- Maximum extraction force: 2 × 60 kN
- Lifting stroke: 2500 mm
- Lifting speed: 1–9 m/min
- Torque wrench torque: 250–300 N·m
- Stroke of torque wrench: 1900 mm
- Crust-Breaking Mechanism:
- Lifting stroke: 4100 mm
- Impact energy: 98 J
- Impact frequency: 1200 blows/min
- Material Charging System:
- Hopper capacity: 4.8 m³
- Feed pipe lifting stroke: 3550 mm
- Rotation: 360°
- Feeding capacity: 25 m³/h
- Slag Removal Device:
- Grab bucket can skim two cells simultaneously under two anodes
- Lifting stroke: 4700 mm
- Cabin:
- Rotation angle: 200°
- Rotation speed: 1–3 r/min
- SEW drive
- Air-conditioning designed for aluminum smelter environment
Aluminum Tapping Trolley
- Duty class: M7
- Travel speed: 5–30 m/min, VFD control
- Rated lifting capacity: 25 t
- Hoisting speed: 5 / 0.8 m/min
- Fully guided hook, free rotation, hoisting stroke 3.75 m
- Electronic weighing system
Fluoride Salt Charging Trolley
- Hopper capacity: 3.5 m³
- Feed pipe lifting stroke: 770 mm
- Feeding capacity: 25 m³/h
- Equipped with 2 t electric hoist
- Travel speed: 5–30 m/min, VFD drive
Fixed Insulated Electric Hoist
- Duty class: M4
- Rated lifting capacity: 2 × 18 t
- Hoisting speed: 7 / 0.7 m/min
- Lifting height: 12 m
