The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for feeding doses of fluidisable materials. More specific, the invention relates to a feeder end e method for feeding fluidisable powder materials, such as alumina and fluoride. In particular, the feeder is designed for maintenance free feeding of alumina and/or fluoride to electrolysis ceils of the Ha!!-Herouit type with prebaked anodes for aluminium production.

The present feeder comprises at least the following main components; an inlet pipe · and an outlet pipe arranged in a housing and further one diverter and a fiutdising element The fluidising element is arranged close to one Inlet opening of the outlet pipe and allows materials to be delivered into and through the outiet pipe when activated. The components mentioned may preferably have a circular cross section. Further said components may be arranged coaxially in the housing, which itself preferably have a mainly cylindrical shape. The arrangement of the iniet/outiet pipes, the diverter end the fluidising element allows the materia! to flow in three dimensions which has shown to give very stable results with regard to ability to reproduce equal dose sizes. Further, the feeder has a volumetric chamber that defines the amount of material the can be delivered by activating the mentioned fluidising element, in at least one embodiment the feeder comprises two fluidising elements coaxially arranged in the housing end spaced at a distance. One upper fluidising element then fills the defined chamber with materials - the second one empties the chamber content through the outlet pipe. The chamber represents a control volume where the feeder then is of a so called volumetric type. The chamber size {volume} is mainly given by the chamber geometry, such as the dimension of the housing, the arrangement of the inlet pipe, the outlet pipe, the diverter and the lower fluidising element, but can also to a certain degree be adjustable, for instance by adjusting the insertion depth of me inlet pipe. in the prior art, several feeder designs have been proposed, in US 4830891 mere is disclosed a pneumatic dosimeter for providing dosages of pulverulent materials, for instance for supplying aluminum oxide and fluoride to an aluminum electrolytic cell The dosimeter comprises a vessel with en upper chamber which at the bottom is provided with a fluidiang device in the form of a fluidizing canvas with an underlying chamber which is connected to an air source via a pipe line. The vessel is provided with an inlet for the supply of pulverulent material from a supply tank or hopper to the upper chamber, and an outlet opening for discharging the chamber. At ieast one flutdizing channel or pipe is provided between the supply tank and the vessel. This channel is provided with a fiuidteing wall or fluid&ng canvas which is connected to an air supply source through a pipe line. The fitting and emptying of the chamber is carried out by solenoid valves which are provided In the pipe line connected to the vessel and the pipe line connected to the channel, respectively. The solenoid valves are controlled by a PLS governor or a processor such that air is supplied to the channel and the vessel according to a preferred lime and frequency program. US 2011/0017786 A1, CN 102234024 A and CN 2QQ99S88G Y relates to metering or dispensing devices for materials where the amount of ftudising gas and/or the period of its activation will influence the metered amount of material. These publications do not disclose feeders with a control volume. One problem with available time controlled feeders for powder materials, even feeders provided with a control volume, is that the size of the dosages leaving the apparatus, may have too high variance, thus causing process variations.

Other drawbacks that may influence feeders;

-To high capacity on filling and discharge side of the element

-Control system limitations - too long activation time to be accurate enough for small dosages

-Start and stop conditions dominate the total variation of dosage

-Hydrostatic pressure influence the variation and stability of the feeding

-Pressure build-up in de-aerating system

-Risk of uncontrolled self-feeding

-Control volume in existing system makes it hard to set the dosage time

-Poor stability and repeatability after commissioning, i.e. the set dosage time has to be corrected after start-up

-A control volume can represent 15-20 doses in total in its chamber and as a process controller it often gives very small doses at the end of each cycle, where the chamber la emptied. This can easily create AE (anodic effects) or PFC (perfluorocarbons) gases.

-Materials are transported in mainly 2-0, i.e. first by one conveyer to the upper part of a control volume and down into it, and as second 2-D transport further down from the control volume onto one other conveyer and to the electrolysis cell

-Transport in a two-dimensional fluidized element may be influenced by "wall-effects ^* , i.e> friction against the side wall of the element, that may cause inaccuracy in transport volume. As an aluminium producer Increase its focus to improve the output of the pots (the electrolysis cells), and also to diminishing the inier-polar distance, the need for accuracy in feeding the pots is continuously increasing

According to the present invention there are several advantages;

-Accurate dose sizes {STD < 3 %)

-Maintenance free (over years)

-Minor influence of activation time (stable doses over wide time range)

-Minor influence of fluidizafion pressure (stable doses over wide pressure range)

-Fluidizing pressure in lower Ruidizing element (pad) does not influence the feeding accuracy (only time of emptying the feeder channel)

-Dose accuracy less independent on powder properties (oxide, fluoride)

-Silent operation (no noise)

-Transport of powder in three dimensions (3-D)

-Little or negligible friction in dosing apparatus

This and further advantages can be achieved in accordance with the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

The present invention shall be further explained by examples and figures where:

Figs. 1 and 2 disclose some basic principles applied by the invention related to controlling the transport of the material where in particular;

Fig. 1 discloses in a cross sectional view, a first basic design of an apparatus for feeding (time controlled) doses of fiuidisabfe powder material (a feeder) without a control volume,

Fig.2 discloses in a cross sectional view, a second basic design of a feeder or an apparatus for feeding (time controlled) doses of ffuidisable powder materials, without a control volume,

Fig. 3 discloses in a cross sectional view, a first embodiment of the Invention where an apparatus for feeding doses of f!uidisabie powder materials is in starting modus, the feeder having a control volume or a volume chamber,

Fig. 4 discloses in a cross sectional view, where the apparatus for feeding doses of fiuidisabie powder materials as shown in Fig.3 Is in filling modus. Fig. 5 discloses in a cross sectiona! view, the apparatus for feeding doses of fiuidisabie powder materials as shown in Fig. 3, in feeding modus, Fig. 0 discloses in a cross sectional view, the principle of a second embodiment of an apparatus for feeding doses of fiuidisabie powder materials in starting modus, the feeder Having a control volume or a volume chamber,

Fig. 7 discloses in a cross sectional view, the apparatus for feeding doses of fiuidisabie powder materials as shown in Fig. 6, in Ping modus,

Fig. 8 discloses in a cross sectional view, the apparatus for feeding doses of fluidisabie powder materials as shown in Fig, 6\ in feeding modus, Fig, 9 discloses in a cross sectional view, a first technical implementation (prototype) of the feeding unit, similar to that of the second embodiment (Fig, 6~S),

Fig. 10 discloses the performance of a prototype feeder in accordance with the invention.. Fig, 11 discloses the performance of a prototype feeder in accordance with the invention,

Fig, 12 discloses the performance of a prototype feeder in accordance with the invention, in Fig. 1 there is shown in $ cross sectional view, a first basic design of an apparatus for feeding doses of fluidisabie powder materials, comprising one upper vertical inlet pipe 1 that receives material from a reservoir, an air siide or the like (not shown) and one lower vertical outlet pipe 2. The iniet pipe 1 and the outlet pipe 2 are coaxiaiiy arranged in a housing 6 with a distance between them. It is also disclosed one fluidising element 5 for controlling outflow of materials via the outlet pipe as well as a flow diverter 7 arranged above the fluidising element. The fluidiaring element is not activated in this Figure. The cone shaped diverfer 7 has a circular shape and controls the material flow from the inlet pipe onto the ring shaped fluidising element and towards the inner wait of the housing 8. The fluidising element has one outer periphery that lays onto the inner wall of the housing and has a central hole CH that corresponds to the inlet opening of the outlet pipe 2. Due to the materials angle of repose AR and the radial extent of the diverter, material will not enter the said inlet opening unless the fluidising element is activated, The flow will be radially towards the hole and downwardly, i.e. in three dimensions. The fluidising element 5, the flow diverter 7 and the centra! hoie CH form together what can be defined as a material lock, that can ailow materials to flow or to be restricted from flowing. This feeder apparatus dees not have a contro! volume. in Fig. 2 there is shown in a cross sectional view, a second basic design of an apparatus for feeding doses of fluidisabie powder materials, comprising one upper vertical inlet pipe 10 that receives material from a reservoir or the like (not shown) and one lower vertical outlet pipe 20. The iniei pipe 10 and tine outlet pipe 20 are coaxiaiiy arranged in a housing 80 with a distance between them, it is also disclosed one fiuidising element 50 for controlling outflow of materials via the outlet pipe 20. The housing and also the fiuidising element may be circular. As in the above design, the components can be coaxiaiiy arranged. The Figure shows the fiuidising element 50 in an active state, and that materials flow from Hie iniei pipe and in a radial direction towards an annular opening between the inner wail of the housing 60 and the fiuidising element SQ and further downwards into a cone shaped part of the housing. The powder material flows out into an annular opening AO of the outlet pipe 20. Optionally, a flow diverter 70 constituted by a cone with its tip pointing downwards can be attached at the underside of the flusdizing element 50. This feeder apparatus does not have a control voiume. Due to the materials angle of repose AR and the radial extent of the fiuidising element SO , the distance between the outlet of pipe 10 to the fiuidising element, material will not enter the said inlet opening unless the fiuidising element is activated Similar to that of Fig. 1 there is established a material lock by the means as mentioned above. in Fig, 3 there is shown in a cross sectional view, a first embodiment of an apparatus for feeding (volumetric) doses of fluidisabie powder materials, comprising one upper vertical inlet pipe 1" and one lower vertical outlet pipe 2' and a control volume constituted by a chamber 3 ^' between the inlet pipe r and the outlet pipe 2'. it is also disclosed one fiuidising element 4' similar to that of fiuidising element 50 in Fig. 2, for controlling inflow of materials into fiie chamber 3' and one fiuidising element 5" similar to that of fiuidising element 5 in Fig. 1, for controlling outflow of materials from the chamber. The inlet pipe Y and the outlet pipe 2' are coaxiaiiy arranged in a housing 6 ^: . A flow diverter 7 is arranged between the inlet pipe t' and Hie outlet pipe Z defining said chamber 3' between said diverter 7 and the housing 6\ The diverter T has a cylindrical shape in this embodiment. The fiuidising element 4 ^: is cifcuiar-shaped and arcanged at a substantially horizontal top surface of the diverter 7 ^! . When activating the fiuidising element 4' (see Fig. 4), it wiii be able to generate e transport into the chamber 3' in a 380* sector and down into it, thus representing a transport in 3' dimensions, 3-D. Thus, by activating fiuidising element 4\ the angle of repose of the powder materia! changes and It starts to flow into chamber 3' and will be resting on the lower fiuidising element 5' that is not activated. The chamber wii! be filled up with fiuidised powder material and the fiuidising element 4' is then switched to inactive, see Fig. 5. Then, as further shown in Fig, 5, by activating the lower fiuidising element 5' the fiuidised powder material flows out through the vertical outlet pipe 2' and to a receiver such as an eiectroiysis cell (not shown). This amount of material available in the chamber 3' wilt represent the control volume, The volume can be emptied in one shot where the fiuidising element is activated a time period long enough for mat purpose.

As an alternative, the fiuidising element can be activated in relative short periods at a frequency controlled by a control unit, for instance a pot controller. The dose size will then be dependent upon the activation time period of the fiuidising element. In mis situation, it is possible to monitor the total amount of fiuidised material dosed, during a time period for instance 24 hours. This can be done by recording tine number of cycles the control volume has been completely emptied after being topped up, and multiply this number with the size of tiie control volume.

The fiuidising element 5' is able to generate a transport from the chamber 3' mainly radially in a 360* sector and down into the outlet pipe 2 ^" , thus representing a transport in 3 dimensions, 3-D. There will be little or negligible friction between the material and the apparatus during this transport. in Fig, 6 there is shown in a cross sectional view, a second embodiment of an apparatus for feeding (volumetric} doses of fiuidisabie powder materials. The materia! is tailing down by gravity through the upper pipe 1" onto the upper fiuidizing element 4" and is tilling an upper chamber 9" between outer housing 6", mat can be cylindrical, and a flow drverter 7", which is conical!y shaped. The filling stops when the material reaches the upper pipe's 1" outlet end The lower part of the apparatus is quite similar to that as shown in Fig. 1, having a conical fiow diverter 7'", a corresponding fiuidizing element 6" and outlet pipe T, Fig. 7, discloses the embodiment of an apparatus for feeding doses of f !uidisabie powder materials as show) in Fig.6, in a fiiiing modus. The fiuidising element 4" activates Inflow of fiukJized materials into the dose chamber 3" where the materia! is resting on the lower fiuidising element 5" that is not activated. After the dose chamber 3" is filled up by reaching inlet pipe level 8", the fiuidising element 4" Is switched to inactive. The filling level can be registered by commonly available level indicating means.

Fig. 8 discloses the feeding modus of the apparatus. In mis embodiment the total control volume is emptied in one shot and thus represents a dose.

By activating the lower fiuidising element 5" me fiuldised material Mows out through the vertical outlet pipe 2", to a receiver such as an electrolysis ceil {not shown). This Is the dose volume. The dose size (volume) Is men mainly given by the geometrical characteristics of the chamber 3" such as the diameter of the housing 8" and the Insertion height of the inlet pipe 8", but also the design of the conical flow diverter and the fiuidising element 5" such as the diameter of the hole CH. Here a shorter pipe that is terminated higher up in the chamber 3" will increase the dose volume, while on the other hand a longer insertion of the pipe wiii decrease the dose volume.

Fig. 9 shows in a cross sectional view, a realized prototype, similar to that of the fourth embodiment as described above.

The cone shaped flow diverters 7 ^:> and 7" above each of fiuidising elements 4" and 5" respectively, leads the material outwards to the wall of housing 6". The angle of repose prevents an outflow of non-fiuidised material given by the vertical distance of the cone to fiuidising element and its radial extend versus the periphery of the outlet pipes. When the fiuidising element Is activated, the angle of repose changes and material flows out through the outlet pipe. The fiuidising elements 4" and 5" being able to generate a transport radially into the Inlet 8" and outlet pipes 2" in a 360* sector and down into it, thus representing a transport in 3 dimensions, 3-D, The inlet pipe 8" can be provided with means for prolongation / retraction, for instance by means of a movable sleeve 8'" arranged onto the pipe, so mat the spacing between the outlet thereof and the diverter 7'" can be adjusted. This wiii affect the volume of materials mat can be received in chamber 3". Fig. 10 discloses the performance of a prototype feeder in accordance with the invention as shown in Fig. S, where the dose size accuracy by activation time period of the fiuidising element The ftuidisation elements are activated by 6 bar air pressure supply in different time steps. The feeding time (emptying the dose chamber 3") is fixed to 5 s. The time (pause) between activation of me fiiiing element and the feeding element is fixed to 5 s as well. The activation time for the filling element has been varied with 5s, 6s, 10s and 15 s. AH measured cycles showed stable and repeatabie dose weights (of 965 g). Standard deviation 4*7 g (or < 1 %}.

Fig. 11 discloses the performance of a prototype feeder in accordance with the invention as shown in Fig. 9 as average doze sizes versus different activation time period:

The fiuidizing elements (in this feeder geometry, Fig. 9) needs ~ 3.5 s to fill a chamber. A longer activation time will not change the dose size. (An activation time < 3.5s leads to smelter doses.)

Fig. 12 discloses the performance of a prototype feeder in accordance with the invention as shown in Fig. 9 as average dose sizes by different fiuidising pressure:

The ffuidisation of alumina (and the feeding) starts on relatively low pressure air suppty <<1 bar). After operating with air pressure on the fiuidizing elements > 3.5 bar, the fluid isaiion and powder flow stabilises. Higher air pressure will not change the dose size significant.

There are several benefits inherent by the present invention due to that fact that it is practically maintenance free because of no moving parts and no wear.

The disclosed feeding principle will (compared to current feeding systems in electrolysis cells} sustain more stabilized dose sizes by less influence of;

Air pressure varies

Time settings and -resolution

Fiuidizing and flow-properties of the material

In addition the invention is represented by small geometric shape compared to Its dosing capacity, simple standard parts and materials and can be operated at tow fiuidizing air pressure while having minor de-aeration air issues.