A method and system is presented for controlling high-temperature molten material flow. A displacer in the system is a mass of material that can variably displace molten material, thereby increasing the height of the top surface of the molten material in a vessel. The displacer may be positioned above or partially immersed in the molten material. The vessel includes an output port at a height that may be at, above, or below the top surface of the molten material, depending on the amount of immersion of the displacer. The method of controlling the flow of the molten material may further include selecting a flow rate for the molten material to flow out of the vessel through the output port and immersing the displacer in the molten material by an amount that is based, at least in part, on the selected flow rate.

A multi-anode electrolytic cell relating to molten salt lithium electrolysis. The cell includes a sealed container with at least two electrode groups uniformly arranged inside. Each group has an anode and a cathode, and the top end of the anode penetrates the top end of the sealed container to protrude out of the sealed container. A separation mesh is arranged on the outer side of the anode. The cathode is arranged on the outer side of the separation mesh and connected with a conducting plate. The top end of the conducting plate protrudes out of the top end of the sealed container. A bottom-removed collecting hood is arranged above the cathode such that it surrounds the outer side of the anode. The physical fields in the sealed container are uniformly distributed by uniformly arranging the electrode groups, thereby ensuring a continuous and stable electrolysis process.

An anode servicing assembly (30, 35) for an aluminium electrolysis plant, said aluminium electrolysis plant comprising at least one line (L1, L2) of electrolysis cells (C1-Cn, C1-Cn) connected in series, each cell having a plurality of anode assemblies (5) connected to an anode beam,

said anode servicing assembly comprising: an elongated body (31), running means adapted to allow movement of said elongated body along a running direction, substantially parallel to main axis of said line (L1, L2), an anode servicing machine (32) mounted on said elongated body, said anode servicing machine comprising at least two operating devices (45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95), each adapted to fulfil at least one specific function different from cell lifting and anode beam raising, at least two support assemblies (40, 50, 60, 62, 70, 72, 80, 81, 82, 83, 90, 91, 92, 93), each adapted to support a respective operating device with respect to said elongated body,
said operating devices (45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95) being movable independently the one with respect to the other, along at least one of a longitudinal axis (L31) of said elongated body (31) and a vertical axis (ZZ).

Systems and methods for feeding solid material and a gas into a container (e.g., electrolytic cell) are generally described. Certain methods comprise feeding solid material and a gas into an electrolytic cell through an inlet; wherein: the gas comprises an inert gas; and the inlet 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. Certain systems comprise a container configured for molten salt electrolysis; a passageway configured for feeding solid material and a gas into the container; an anode; a cathode; and an outlet configured for releasing a gas from the 10 container; wherein an inlet from the passageway to the container is positioned, relative to the anode, within a distance that is less than or equal to 5 times the shortest cross-sectional dimension of the anode.

An electrolysis reactor for electrolytically generating one or more metal cathode product(s) includes a dimensionally stable anode (DSA) and a cathode positioned in a molten salt electrolyte containing fused salts, wherein the DSA includes a graphite substrate and a non-ceramic, transition metal oxide coating on the substrate and wherein during electrolysis the one or more metal cathode product(s) are produced at the cathode.

A method and system for producing and collecting oxygen gas using molten oxide electrolysis is presented. The system includes a refractory vessel to hold molten oxide material, an anode, a cathode, and a thermionic diode at a top portion of the refractory vessel. The anode for the electrolysis cell (e.g., the anode and cathode that are positioned in the vessel to perform electrolysis) has a dual function by also acting as the cathode of the thermionic diode. Among other things, the presence of the thermionic diode may limit the direction of electrical current flow so that current only flows from the anode to the cathode of the electrolysis cell. This directional limitation provides an advantage in that an AC power source of the MOE system need not be rectified or converted to DC before powering the MOE system.

A method for recovering metal resources in coal ash by molten salt electrolysis includes: calcinating the coal ash for decarburization to obtain the decarburized coal ash; subjecting the decarburized coal ash to ball milling to obtain coal ash powders; pressing the coal ash powders to form a plate; placing the plate as a cathode into an electrolyte in a reactor, and performing electrolytic reaction under an oxygen-free condition at an electrolytic reaction temperature of 550 C. to 900 C. in the reactor to obtain a reaction product; and removing the reaction product from the reactor, cooling the reaction product to room temperature in an inert atmosphere, and cleaning the cooled reaction product to obtain a silicon-aluminum based alloy.

The present disclosure relates to products, systems, and methods for producing purified liquid metal (e.g., purified aluminum) from a feedstock (e.g., aluminum feedstock) in an electrolytic cell (e.g., purification cell) by purifying the feedstock and moving the purified liquid metal from a first location of the cell to a second location via at least one directing feature. The at least one directing feature may be electrically neutral and may be located proximal the first location. The at least one directing feature may be in fluid communication with the purified liquid metal (e.g., purified aluminum) and the second location.

An apparatus and related methods for continuous electrodeposition of metals from impure metal feedstocks are provided. Elemental metals (e.g., Co, Cu) can be deposited from metal feedstocks (e.g., metal compounds such as hydroxides, oxyhydroxides, oxides, or sulfides; ores, including concentrates and mine wastes; tailings; alloys; recycled waste; or scrap metal) in a molten salt electrolyte. An apparatus for continuous electrodeposition comprises: a working electrode comprising a rotary drum having a central axis and a lateral surface, wherein the rotary drum is configured to rotate about the central axis; a counter electrode; and a vessel with an electrolyte bath disposed therein, the electrolyte bath comprising a molten salt electrolyte, wherein the lateral surface of the working electrode is configured to be at least partially submerged in the electrolyte bath. Methods of the present disclosure enable recovery of metals from low concentrations or via processing of ores or dilute waste streams.

The present disclosure is related to molten salt electrolytic cells and related systems and methods.