System and methods useful in controlling operations of metal electrolysis cells

Abstract

An analysis system for determining one or more operating conditions of a metal electrolysis cell and for facilitating a response is provided. The analysis system comprises a bath probe electrically interconnected to a portable computing device. The bath probe generates signals associated with temperature measurements produced from thermal communication with an electrolysis cell bath. The portable computing device may receive these signals and generate data based thereon. The data may be transformed into operating condition information relating to the electrolysis cell.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a metal electrolysis cell, the method comprising:
 generating signals relating to at least one operating condition of the electrolysis cell;   receiving the signals at portable computing device;   creating data associated with the signals; and   outputting operating condition information corresponding with the data to facilitate a control response.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operating condition information corresponds with the at least one operating condition and wherein the at least one operating condition is at least one of bath temperature, bath superheat, bath metal oxide concentration, and bath constituent ratio. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the outputting step comprises:
 transferring at least one of the data and the operating condition information to a host computer.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the outputting step comprises:
 displaying the operating condition information on a display associated with the portable computing device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 placing a bath probe in thermal communication with a bath of the electrolysis cell;   wherein the generating step comprises:   removing the bath probe from substantial thermal communication with the bath for a predetermined temperature range.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the placing step occurs before the outputting step and wherein the duration between the start of the placing step and the end of the outputting step is not greater than one hour. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the creating step occurs at a first location and wherein the outputting step occurs at a second location remote from the first location. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first location is the operating room of the electrolysis cell and wherein the second location is located outside the operating room. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the outputting step comprises:
 displaying a recommended control response on a display associated with at least one of the portable computing device and a host computer.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 automatically completing an action in response to the outputting step.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the automatically completing step comprises:
 adjusting one or more of a voltage output and a constituent feedrate associated with the electrolysis cell.