Electrolysis cells
First Claim
1. An electrolysis cell for recovery of a metal by electrolysis from a molten electrolyte containing a metal compound, wherein the molten metal has a density lower than the molten electrolyte and the compound produces a gas during electrolysis that reacts on contact with the molten metal, the cell having a housing containing a plurality of electrode assemblies each including an anode, a cathode and at least one interpolar electrode disposed between said anode and said cathode so as to form interpolar spaces in which electrolysis occurs, and connections for conveying electrical current to and from said electrode assemblies;
- wherein each electrode assembly is provided with a hood enclosing an upper portion of the electrode assembly including the cathode of said assembly, such that the hood in operation provides a gas collection chamber such that said gas generated by each said electrode assembly is isolated from other electrode assemblies and from metal collecting in said housing outside each said hood.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrolysis cell for recovery of metals that are lighter than the electrolyte used in the cell. The cell makes use of multiple electrode assemblies, and each assembly is provided with an individual hood at the top forming a gas collection chamber. The hood of each assembly collects gas generated by the assembly and isolates the gas thus generated from gas generated by other assemblies and from metal collecting in the cell outside the hoods. The invention also relates to an integrated unit made up of an electrode assembly and an associated hood for use in a cell of the above kind, and a method of recovering metal by operating a cell of the above kind.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electrolysis cell for recovery of a metal by electrolysis from a molten electrolyte containing a metal compound, wherein the molten metal has a density lower than the molten electrolyte and the compound produces a gas during electrolysis that reacts on contact with the molten metal, the cell having a housing containing a plurality of electrode assemblies each including an anode, a cathode and at least one interpolar electrode disposed between said anode and said cathode so as to form interpolar spaces in which electrolysis occurs, and connections for conveying electrical current to and from said electrode assemblies;
- wherein each electrode assembly is provided with a hood enclosing an upper portion of the electrode assembly including the cathode of said assembly, such that the hood in operation provides a gas collection chamber such that said gas generated by each said electrode assembly is isolated from other electrode assemblies and from metal collecting in said housing outside each said hood.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An electrolysis cell for recovery of a metal by electrolysis from a molten electrolyte containing a metal compound, wherein the molten metal has a density lower than the molten electrolyte and the compound produces a gas during electrolysis that reacts on contact with the molten metal, the cell having a housing containing a plurality of electrode assemblies each including an anode, a cathode and at least one bipolar electrode disposed between said anode and said cathode so as to form interpolar spaces in which electrolysis occurs and the cathode forms an electrically and mechanically continuous surface surrounding the outermost at least one bipolar electrode, and connections for conveying electrical current to and from said electrode assemblies;
- wherein each electrode assembly is provided with a hood enclosing an upper portion of said assembly such that (a) the hood in operation provides a gas collection chamber such that said gas generated by the said electrode assembly is isolated from the remaining electrode assemblies, and (b) the hood and outer surface of the cathode are in a spaced relationship so that in operation, electrolyte flow containing the metal formed on the electrodes can flow over the top of the cathode and under the edge of the hood substantially adjacent the cathode over which it flowed.
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19. An integral electrolysis unit comprising an electrode assembly having an anode, a cathode and at least one interpolar electrode, and a hood encircling an upper end of said electrode assembly, said hood including a lower end sealed in a gas-tight manner against a periphery of said cathode, except at at least one open aperture at a point on said periphery of said cathode.
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20. A method of recovering a metal by electrolysis from a molten electrolyte containing a metal compound, the molten metal having a density lower than the molten electrolyte and the compound producing a gas during electrolysis that reacts on contact with the molten metal, in which electrolysis is conducted in a cell having a housing containing a plurality of electrode assemblies each including an anode, a cathode and at least one interpolar electrode disposed between said anode and said cathode so as to form interpolar spaces in which electrolysis occurs, and connections for conveying electrical current to and from said electrode assemblies;
- wherein said gas from each electrode assembly is collected in a hood enclosing an upper portion of the electrode assembly including the cathode of said assembly and providing a gas collection chamber, such that said gas generated by each said electrode assembly is isolated from other electrode assemblies and from metal collecting in said housing outside each said hood.
- View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
Specification