Systems and methods for feeding solid material and a gas into an electrolytic cell

A method, comprising:

• feeding solid material through an electrically isolated passageway, to and through an opening in an inlet, and into an electrolytic cell;
• and
• feeding a gas into the electrolytic cell through the same electrically isolated passageway and opening in the inlet through which the solid material is fed into the electrolytic cell;
• wherein:
• the gas comprises an inert gas;
• and
• the opening in the inlet through which the solid material and the gas are fed into the electrolytic cell is positioned, relative to an anode of the electrolytic cell, within a distance that is less than or equal to 5 times the shortest cross-sectional dimension of the anode.

A method, comprising:

• feeding solid material into an electrolytic cell through an opening in an inlet;
• feeding a first gas into the electrolytic cell through the same opening in the inlet through which the solid material is fed into the electrolytic cell;
• dissolving the solid material into a molten salt within the electrolytic cell using gas bubbles produced at one or more anodes of the electrolytic cell;
• and
• releasing a second gas from the electrolytic cell through an outlet,
• wherein:
• the first gas comprises an inert gas;
• the electrolytic cell comprises one or more cathodes;
• and
• the opening in the inlet through which the solid material and the gas are fed into the electrolytic cell is positioned closer to one of the anodes than to any of the cathodes.

A method, comprising:

• feeding solid material into an electrolytic cell through an opening in an inlet;
• feeding a first gas into the electrolytic cell through the same opening in the inlet through which the solid material is fed into the electrolytic cell;
• dissolving the solid material into a molten salt within the electrolytic cell using gas bubbles produced at one or more anodes of the electrolytic cell;
• and
• releasing a second gas from the electrolytic cell through an outlet,
• wherein:
• the first gas comprises an inert gas;
• and
• the opening in the inlet through which the solid material and the gas are fed into the electrolytic cell is positioned, relative to an anode of the electrolytic cell, within a distance that is less than or equal to 5 times the shortest cross-sectional dimension of the anode.