In a method for reduction of a solid feedstock, such as a solid metal compound, in an electrolytic apparatus a portion of the feedstock is arranged in each of two or more electrolytic cells (50, 60, 70, 80). A molten salt is provided as an electrolyte in each cell. The molten salt is circulated from
In a method for reduction of a solid feedstock, such as a solid metal compound, in an electrolytic apparatus a portion of the feedstock is arranged in each of two or more electrolytic cells (50, 60, 70, 80). A molten salt is provided as an electrolyte in each cell. The molten salt is circulated from a molten salt reservoir (10) such that salt flows through each of the cells. Feedstock is reduced in each cell by applying a potential across electrodes in each cell, the potential being sufficient to cause reduction of the feedstock. The invention also provides an apparatus for implementing the method.
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1. A method for reduction of a solid metal oxide feedstock in an electrolytic apparatus comprising the steps of, arranging a portion of the solid metal oxide feedstock in each of a plurality of electrolytic cells,circulating molten salt from a first molten salt reservoir such that salt flows through
1. A method for reduction of a solid metal oxide feedstock in an electrolytic apparatus comprising the steps of, arranging a portion of the solid metal oxide feedstock in each of a plurality of electrolytic cells,circulating molten salt from a first molten salt reservoir such that salt flows through each of the electrolytic cells, andapplying a potential across electrodes of each of the cells, the potential being sufficient to cause the reduction of the solid metal oxide feedstock in each of the cells. 2. The method according to claim 1, comprising the step of switching the flow of molten salt through the cells from salt contained in the first reservoir to salt contained in a second reservoir. 3. The method according to claim 2, comprising the step of maintaining the molten salt in the second molten reservoir at a predetermined level. 4. The method according to claim 2, comprising the step of maintaining the molten salt in the first and second molten salt reservoir at a predetermined level. 5. The method according to claim 2, in which the molten salt in the second molten salt reservoir is circulated through a purification apparatus to remove impurities and maintain the composition of the salt in the reservoir. 6. The method according to claim 2, in which the molten salt in the first and second molten salt reservoir is circulated through a purification apparatus to remove impurities and maintain the composition of the salt in the reservoir. 7. The method according to claim 1, in which the solid metal oxide feedstock is arranged in contact with a cathode or cathodic element in each of the plurality of electrolytic cells. 8. The method according to claim 1, comprising the step of removing an electrolytic cell containing reduced feedstock from the apparatus and replacing it with an electrolytic cell containing unreduced feedstock, the replacement of the cell taking place while molten salt continues to flow through other cells of the apparatus. 9. The method according to claim 1, comprising the step of maintaining the molten salt in the first molten salt reservoir at a predetermined level. 10. The method according to claim 1, in which the molten salt in the first molten salt reservoir is circulated through a purification apparatus to remove impurities and maintain the composition of the salt in the reservoir. 11. The method according to claim 1, in which the reduction of the feedstock occurs by electro-decomposition. 12. The method according to claim 1, in which molten salt is pumped through the cells, or in which molten salt flows from the first reservoir and through the cells under the influence of gravity. 13. The method according to claim 1, comprising the further step of pre-heating the cell before allowing molten salt to circulate through the cell. 14. The method according to claim 13, in which heating of the cell occurs by passing hot gas through the cell. 15. The method according to claim 13, in which heating of the cell occurs by resistance heating or induction heating. 16. An apparatus for the reduction of a solid metal oxide feedstock comprising a plurality of electrolytic cells, each cell having electrodes and containing a portion of the solid metal oxide feedstock, anda first molten salt reservoir from which molten salt can be circulated such that salt flows through each of the electrolytic cells,in which a potential sufficient to cause the reduction of the solid metal oxide feedstock can be applied across the electrodes of each cell. 17. The apparatus according to claim 16, in which each electrolytic cell comprises a housing having a molten salt inlet, a molten salt outlet, an anode positioned within the housing and a cathode positioned within the housing, in which the potential can be applied across the anode and the cathode of the cell. 18. The apparatus according to claim 16, in which a portion of the solid metal oxide feedstock is retained in contact with a cathode or a cathodic element in each of the plurality of electrolytic cells. 19. The apparatus according to claim 16, comprising at least one molten salt transport circuit for circulating molten salt. 20. The apparatus according to claim 19, comprising more than one molten salt transport circuit for circulating the molten salt from the first reservoir, through each of the plurality of cells, and back to the first reservoir, or comprising a single molten salt transport circuit for circulating the molten salt from the first reservoir, through each of the plurality of cells, and back to the first reservoir. 21. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a second salt reservoir from which a second molten salt can be circulated through the plurality of cells. 22. The apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising purification apparatus for purification of the molten salt in the second salt reservoir and/or comprising a top-up salt reservoir for supplying fresh molten salt to maintain levels of salt in the first and/or second salt reservoir. 23. The apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising purification apparatus for purification of the molten salt in the first and second salt reservoir and/or comprising a top-up salt reservoir for supplying fresh molten salt to maintain levels of salt in the first and/or second salt reservoir. 24. The apparatus according to claim 21, comprising valves which allow the source of molten salt flowing through the cells to be switched from the first salt reservoir to the second salt reservoir and vice versa. 25. The apparatus according to claim 16, in which each of the cells is removably-couplable to a salt transport circuit. 26. The apparatus according to claim 25, in which the salt transport circuit comprises valves actuatable to selectably restrict salt flow to and from each cell to allow each cell to be exchanged while the apparatus is in operation. 27. The apparatus according to claim 16, in which the, or each, salt reservoir has a volume equal to or greater than a combined volume of all of the plurality of cells. 28. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising purification apparatus for purification of the molten salt in the first salt reservoir and/or comprising a top-up salt reservoir for supplying fresh molten salt to maintain levels of salt in the first and/or second salt reservoir. 29. The apparatus according to claim 16, having a molten salt circuit comprising a return portion for returning molten salt from the cells to the, or each, reservoir, the liquid flow being broken during the return portion to prevent electrical connection between the cells and the reservoir. 30. The apparatus according to claim 16, in which at least one electrolytic cell comprises a plurality of bipolar elements, one surface of each of the elements acting as a cathode.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (7)
McMonigle Matthew J. (New Kensington PA) LaCamera Alfred F. (Level Green PA), Electrolysis cell for reduction of molten metal halide.
Das Subodh K. (Apollo PA) Foster ; Jr. Perry A. (New Kensington PA) Hildeman Gregory J. (Murrysville PA), Electrolytic production of aluminum using a composite cathode.
Hyland Wayne W. (Lower Burrell PA) Robl ; Jr. Robert F. (Monroeville PA) LaCamera Alfred F. (Level Green PA), Lowermost bipolar spacing for electrolytic cell.
Sivilotti Olivo Giuseppe,CAX ; Vandermeulen Meine,CAX ; Iseki Junkichi,JPX, Multi-polar cell for the recovery of a metal by electrolysis of a molten electrolyte.
Ogasawara Tadashi (Nishinomiya JPX) Natsume Yoshitake (Kawanishi JPX) Fujita Kenji (Nishinomiya JPX), Process for the electrolytic production of magnesium.
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