US 7,576,534 B2
System and method to forecast the electrical conductivity of anodes for aluminum production before baking
Daniel Audet, Chicoutimi (Canada); and Luc Parent, Chicoutimi (Canada)
Assigned to Universite Du Quebec A Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi (Quebec) (Canada)
Appl. No. 10/582,191
PCT Filed Dec. 10, 2004, PCT No. PCT/CA2004/002106
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Jun. 09, 2006,
PCT Pub. No. WO2005/057227, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 23, 2005.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/528720, filed on Dec. 12, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2007/0114126 A1, May 24, 2007
Int. Cl. G01N 27/72 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 324—234  [324/228; 324/233; 324/236; 324/239; 324/240; 324/241; 324/242; 324/243; 324/259; 324/260; 324/261; 324/263; 324/237; 324/238] 8 Claims
 
1. A method for forecasting the electrical conductivity of an anode for aluminum production, the method comprising:
generating an excitation electromagnetic field;
moving the anode, or a sample thereof, within at least one receiving coil electromagnetically coupled to the electromagnetic field before baking of the anode;
sensing a variation in the electromagnetic field received by the at least one receiving coil and outputting a signal indicative thereof;
calculating a value indicative of the electrical conductivity of the anode; wherein the value indicative of the electrical conductivity of the anode is calculated using the signal indicative of the variation in the electromagnetic field received by the at least one receiving coil and previously-recorded signals obtained with reference anodes before baking thereof and for which the electrical conductivity has also been directly measured after baking using conventional methods or by monitoring their efficiency during use; and
the calculated value being indicative of the electrical conductivity of the anode after baking,
comparing the value indicative of the electrical conductivity of the anode to a threshold value; and
discarding the anode before baking based on the fact that its forecasted electrical conductivity is below the threshold value.