Method and apparatus for electrolysing light metals
OwnerOlivo Sivilottiinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a new and useful process for the production of a molten metal by electrolysis in an electrolytic cell having an electrolysis compartment, a metal recovery compartment, and a partition separating upper parts of said compartments, said process comprising: electrolysing in said electrolysis compartment an electrolyte containing a fused salt of said metal said electrolyte being of greater density than said metal; continuously withdrawing the product metal mixed with said electrolyte in a stream from said electrolysis compartment to a top part of said metal recovery compartment; allowing said metal to form in said metal recovery compartment a pad floating on said electrolyte; maintaining said pad out of contact with said partition; and recovering said pad.
Claims25
A process for the production of a molten metal by electrolysis in an electrolytic cell having an electrolysis section containing a series of anodes and cathodes in facing relationship, a metal recovery section continuous with said electrolysis section, and a submerged reservoir, said process comprising:
- electrolysing in said electrolysis section of said cell an electrolyte containing a fused salt of said metal to produce said metal, said electrolyte having a greater density than said metal;
- allowing said metal and additional said electrolyte to circulate at high velocity upward in inter-electrode spaces in said electrolysis section;
- causing said metal and said electrolyte to circulate at low velocity between non-working faces of said cathodes and continuously to said recovery section;
- continuously separating said metal from said electrolyte in said electrolysis and said recovery sections;
- causing said metal to circulate toward a part of said recovery section remote from said electrolysis section;
- conveying said metal from said recovery section to said submerged reservoir;
- and
- periodically recovering said metal from said reservoir.
A process for the production of a molten metal by electrolysis in an electrolytic cell having an electrolysis section, a metal recovery section continuous with said electrolysis section, and a submerged reservoir, said process comprising:
- electrolysing in said electrolysis section of said cell an electrolyte containing a fused salt of said metal to produce said metal, said electrolyte having a greater density than said metal;
- causing said metal and additional said electrolyte to circulate continuously from said electrolysis section to said recovery section;
- continuously separating said metal from said electrolyte in said recovery section;
- causing said metal to circulate toward a part of said recovery section remote from said electrolysis section;
- conveying said metal from said recovery section to said submerged reservoir;
- and
- periodically recovering said metal from said reservoir.
A process for the production of a molten metal by electrolysis in an electrolytic cell having an electrolysis section, a metal recovery section, a services section, a partition extending downwardly from a top of said cell between said services section and said electrolysis and recovery sections, and a submerged reservoir extending across at least a part of said recovery section and into said services section beneath said partition wall, said process comprising:
- electrolysing at electrodes in said electrolysis section of said cell an electrolyte containing a fused salt of said metal to produce said metal, said salt having a greater density than said metal;
- rapidly circulating said electrolyte upwardly through inter electrode spaces between said electrodes;
- slowly circulating said electrolyte continuously from said electrolysis section toward a part of said recovery section spaced from said electrolysis section;
- continuously separating said metal from said electrolyte at a part of said recovery section spaced from said electrolysis section;
- conveying said metal from said recovery section to said submerged reservoir;
- and
- periodically recovering said metal from said reservoir through said services section.
An electrolytic cell comprising:
- an electrolysis section;
- a metal recovery section continuous with said electrolysis section;
- a reservoir for storing a product metal said reservoir adapted for submersion in an electrolyte and having a top substantially closed to said electrolyte and a bottom substantially open to said electrolyte, when said reservoir is submersed;
- and
- means for conveying a product of electrolysis from said metal recovery section to said reservoir.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.