US3893899A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrolytic cell for metal production
Assignee: Alcoa Corp
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Filing: 1973-10-25
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Granted: 1975-07-08
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Expires: 1993-10-25
Abstract
Abstract Metal such as aluminum is produced electrolytically from the metal chloride dissolved in molten solvent of higher decomposition potential, in a cell which includes an anode, at least one intermediate bipolar electrode and a cathode in superimposed relationship defining inter-electrode spaces, with bath flow through the inter-electrode spaces effecting removal therefrom of metal produced, and permitting accumulation of metal by settling from the outflowing bath.
Inventors
- 👤 M Benjamin Dell
- 👤 Warren E Haupin
- 👤 Allen S Russell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 22:11
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/34; B01D53/46; B01D53/68; C; C25; C25C; C25C3/00; C25C3/06; C25C7/00; C25C7/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A CELL FOR PRODUCING METAL COMPRISING AN ANODE AT LEAST ONE INTERMEDIATE BIPOLAR ELECTRODE AND A CATHODE IN SUPERIMPOSED, SPACED RELATIONSHIP DEFINING INTER-ELECTRODE-SPACES, EACH BOUNDED BY AN ANODE SURFACE AND A CATHODE SURFACE, FOR ELECTROLYZING BATH COMPOSED ESSENTIALLY OF METAL CHLORIDE DISSOLVED IN MOLTEN SOLVENT, A BATH SUPPLY PASSAGE EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY TO EACH INTER-ELECTRODE SPACE, A GAS LIFT PASSAGE EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM EACH INTER-ELECTRODE SPACE AT A LOCATION SPACED FROM THE BATH SUPPLY PASSAGE FOR RECEIVING CHLORIDE, BATH AND METAL FROM THE INTER-ELECTRODE SPACE, SAID GAS LIFT PASSAGE BEING ADAPTED UPON ELECTROLYSIS OF BATH IN EACH INTER/ELECTRODE SPACE TO CAUSE FLOW OF BATH OUT OF THE INTER-ELECTRODE SPACE, AND THUS INDUCE CONCURRENT OUTWARDLY FLOW OF METAL SWEPT THEREWITH, AND TO PUMP BATH UPWARDLY BY EMPLOYMENT OF THE GAS LIFT EFFECT OF THE CHLORINE PRODUCED AND CONDUCTED TO SAID PASSAGE, AND TO PERMIT METAL FLOWIN INTO SAID PASSAGE TO SETTLE THEREIN, N WHICH CELL THE FLOW OF BATH DOWN THROUGH THE SUPPLY PASSAGE, THROUGH THE INTER-ELECTRODE SPACES, AND BACK UP THROUGH THE GAS LIFT PASSAGE MAY BE MAINTAINED BY THE FLOW OF CHLORINE PRODUCT, WHILE METAL PRODUCED MAY SETTLE IN A DIRECTION COUNTER CURRENT TO THE GAS LIFT.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A CELL FOR PRODUCING METAL COMPRISING AN ANODE AT LEAST ONE INTERMEDIATE BIPOLAR ELECTRODE AND A CATHODE IN SUPERIMPOSED, SPACED RELATIONSHIP DEFINING INTER-ELECTRODE-SPACES, EACH BOUNDED BY AN ANODE SURFACE AND A CATHODE SURFACE, FOR ELECTROLYZING BATH COMPOSED ESSENTIALLY OF METAL CHLORIDE DISSOLVED IN MOLTEN SOLVENT, A BATH SUPPLY PASSAGE EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY TO EACH INTER-ELECTRODE SPACE, A GAS LIFT PASSAGE EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM EACH INTER-ELECTRODE SPACE AT A LOCATION SPACED FROM THE BATH SUPPLY PASSAGE FOR RECEIVING CHLORIDE, BATH AND METAL FROM THE INTER-ELECTRODE SPACE, SAID GAS LIFT PASSAGE BEING ADAPTED UPON ELECTROLYSIS OF BATH IN EACH INTER/ELECTRODE SPACE TO CAUSE FLOW OF BATH OUT OF THE INTER-ELECTRODE SPACE, AND THUS INDUCE CONCURRENT OUTWARDLY FLOW OF METAL SWEPT THEREWITH, AND TO PUMP BATH UPWARDLY BY EMPLOYMENT OF THE GAS LIFT EFFECT OF THE CHLORINE PRODUCED AND CONDUCTED TO SAID PASSAGE, AND TO PERMIT METAL FLOWIN INTO SAID PASSAGE TO SETTLE THEREIN, N WHICH CELL THE FLOW OF BATH DOWN THROUGH THE SUPPLY PASSAGE, THROUGH THE INTER-ELECTRODE SPACES, AND BACK UP THROUGH THE GAS LIFT PASSAGE MAY BE MAINTAINED BY THE FLOW OF CHLORINE PRODUCT, WHILE METAL PRODUCED MAY SETTLE IN A DIRECTION COUNTER CURRENT TO THE GAS LIFT.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A cell according to claim 1 in which the minimum distances between opposed anode and cathode surfaces are less than three-fourth inch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cell according to claim 1 in which said bath supply passage extends from a location above said anode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cell according to claim 1 provided with a sump below said cathode, with which said gas lift passage communicates, for accumulation of metal produced.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
94 words
A cell according to claim 1 in which each said anode surface has spaced channels therein for receiving and directing flow of chlorine toward and into said gas lift passage, said spaced channels communicating with said gas lift passage but not with said bath supply passage, whereby back flow of chlorine into said bath supply passage is obstructed, said spaced channels being recessed from the minimum anode-cathode space, thereby to effect removal of chlorine from a location within the minimum anode-cathode space to a location further from the metal produced on the cathode surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
A cell according to claim 1 in which said gas lift passage is larger at the anode level than at the lowermost bipolar electrode level, and is generally sized from lower to higher levels to have an area of about 0.05 to 0.15 square inch per standard cubic foot per hour of chlorine passing therethrough, to accommodate upward flow of chlorine and bath from the inter-electrode spaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A cell according to claim 1 in which an upper zone for bath, located above said anode, is provided with outlet means for venting chlorine therefrom and inlet means for replenishing the metal chloride content of the bath.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
137 words
In a cell for producing aluminum by the electrolytic reduction of aluminum chloride in a molten halide bath, a plurality of substantially horizontal electrodes disposed in superimposed, vertically spaced relationship defining inter-electrode spaces, means defining a first passage for molten bath disposed in fluid communication with said inter-electrode spaces for conducting bath into said spaces from a source thereof, means defining a second passage disposed in fluid communication with said inter-electrode spaces and remote from said first passage for conducting bath from said spaces to said source thereof, said means providing for upwardly displacing molten bath by gas lift effect in said second passage and inducing a flow of bath from said first passage into and through said inter-electrode spaces and into said second passage, whereby substantial accumulation of aluminum in the inter-electrode spaces may be prevented.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
137 words
In a cell for producing aluminum by the electrolytic reduction of aluminum chloride in a molten halide bath, a plurality of substantially horizontal electrodes disposed in superimposed, vertically spaced relationship defining inter-electrode spaces, means defining a first passage for molten bath disposed in fluid communication with said inter-electrode spaces for conducting bath into said spaces from a source thereof, means defining a second passage disposed in fluid communication with said inter-electrode spaces and remote from said first passage for conducting bath from said spaces to said source thereof, said means providing for upwardly displacing molten bath by gas lift effect in said second passage and inducing a flow of bath from said first passage into and through said inter-electrode spaces and into said second passage, whereby substantial accumulation of aluminum in the inter-electrode spaces may be prevented.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a cell as set forth in claim 8 including channel means disposed on the upper anode surfaces of the defined inter-electrode spaces to selectively direct chlorine internally produced in said inter-electrode spaces into said second passage for upwardly displacing molten bath by gas lift effect, said channel means including channels recessed from the minimum anode-cathode space, thereby to effect removal of chlorine from a location within the minimum anode-cathode space to a location further from the metal produced on the cathode surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-07 | 1979-01-06 | 1979-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-07 | 1983-01-06 | 1983-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-07 | 1987-01-06 | 1987-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |