In one embodiment, an electrolytic cell for the production of aluminum from alumina includes: at least one anode module having a plurality of anodes; at least one cathode module, opposing the anode module, wherein the at least one cathode module comprises a plurality of cathodes, wherein the plurality of anodes are suspended above the cathode module and extending downwards towards the cathode module, wherein the plurality of cathodes are positioned extending upwards towards the anode module, wherein each of the plurality of anodes and each of the plurality of cathodes are alternatingly positioned, wherein the plurality of anodes is selectively positionable in a horizontal direction relative to adjacent cathodes, wherein the anode module is selectively positionable in a vertical direction relative to the cathode module, and wherein a portion of each of the anode electrodes overlap a portion of adjacent cathodes.

A metallurgical method for operating an autogenous production circuit for producing metal(s), said method using one or more oxidizing agents generated electrolytically in a cell with one or more interfaces which allows anion exchange; said method comprising steps of: (a) leaching of mineral(s) or material(s) containing at least one metal of interest (LX) in a first cell (A) to produce a pregnant leach solution (2) and an acid-ferrous aqueous solution (8); (b) using solvent extraction process(es) or selection process(es) in a second cell (B) to concentrate said metal(s) of interest (SX) of said pregnant leach solution (2) to produce a rich electrolyte (5) and a raffinate solution (4), said raffinate solution (4) being recycled in said first cell (A); and (c) electrowinning (EW) in a third cell (C) of said rich electrolyte (5) received from said second cell (B) and said acid-ferrous aqueous solution (8) received from said first cell (A), for producing a metal cathode (6) and an acid-ferric acid solution (9), said acid-ferric acid solution (9) being recycled in said first cell (A), wherein said steps (a), (b) and (c) are performed in said autogenous circuit that includes said first, second and third cells (A, B, C) with one or more anionic interfaces producing anodic and cathode reactions.

A metallurgical method for operating an autogenous production circuit for producing metal(s), said method using one or more oxidizing agents generated electrolytically in a cell with one or more interfaces which allows anion exchange; said method comprising steps of: (a) leaching of mineral(s) or material(s) containing at least one metal of interest (LX) in a first cell (A) to produce a pregnant leach solution (2) and an acid-ferrous aqueous solution (8); (b) using solvent extraction process(es) or selection process(es) in a second cell (B) to concentrate said metal(s) of interest (SX) of said pregnant leach solution (2) to produce a rich electrolyte (5) and a raffinate solution (4), said raffinate solution (4) being recycled in said first cell (A); and (c) electrowinning (EW) in a third cell (C) of said rich electrolyte (5) received from said second cell (B) and said acid-ferrous aqueous solution (8) received from said first cell (A), for producing a metal cathode (6) and an acid-ferric acid solution (9), said acid-ferric acid solution (9) being recycled in said first cell (A), wherein said steps (a), (b) and (c) are performed in said autogenous circuit that includes said first, second and third cells (A, B, C) with one or more anionic interfaces producing anodic and cathode reactions.

An anode assembly is provided having a pair of channels; anodes in slidable communication with the channels; conduit to direct carrier gas to the anode; and conduit to remove reaction gas from the anode. Also provided is a method for continuously feeding anodes into a electrolytic bath, the method having the steps of stacking the anodes such that all of the anodes reside in the same plane and wherein the stack includes a bottom anode; contacting the bottom anode with the electrolytic bath for a time and at a current sufficient to cause the bottom anode to be consumed during an electrolytic process; using gravity to replace the bottom anode with other anodes defining the stack.

An anode assembly is provided having a pair of channels; anodes in slidable communication with the channels; conduit to direct carrier gas to the anode; and conduit to remove reaction gas from the anode. Also provided is a method for continuously feeding anodes into a electrolytic bath, the method having the steps of stacking the anodes such that all of the anodes reside in the same plane and wherein the stack includes a bottom anode; contacting the bottom anode with the electrolytic bath for a time and at a current sufficient to cause the bottom anode to be consumed during an electrolytic process; using gravity to replace the bottom anode with other anodes defining the stack.

A raw gas collection system for collecting raw gas from a plurality of aluminium smelting pots is equipped with a plurality of branch ducts, each of which is arranged to channel a respective branch flow of raw gas from an aluminium smelting pot to a collection duct, which is common to and shared by the branch ducts. Each of said branch ducts is, near an outlet thereof, equipped with a curved section for aligning the branch flow with a flow direction of raw gas already present in the common collection duct, and a constriction for accelerating the branch flow through the branch duct outlet into the common collection duct. Furthermore, each of said branch ducts is equipped with a heat exchanger for removing heat from the respective branch flow of raw gas. The combined flow resistance of the constriction and the heat exchanger reduces the need for adjusting the respective branch flows using dampers, thereby reducing the power required to transport the raw gas.

A raw gas collection system for collecting raw gas from a plurality of aluminium smelting pots is equipped with a plurality of branch ducts, each of which is arranged to channel a respective branch flow of raw gas from an aluminium smelting pot to a collection duct, which is common to and shared by the branch ducts. Each of said branch ducts is, near an outlet thereof, equipped with a curved section for aligning the branch flow with a flow direction of raw gas already present in the common collection duct, and a constriction for accelerating the branch flow through the branch duct outlet into the common collection duct. Furthermore, each of said branch ducts is equipped with a heat exchanger for removing heat from the respective branch flow of raw gas. The combined flow resistance of the constriction and the heat exchanger reduces the need for adjusting the respective branch flows using dampers, thereby reducing the power required to transport the raw gas.

There is provided an energy management method, comprising steps of conducting (304) electric energy from an energy production plant (110, 112, 114, 140) to an energy storage facility (120, 220), applying, in the energy storage facility (120, 220), the received electric energy on a chemical compound (222) to separate the chemical compound to a first component (224) and a second component (226), and storing (306), in the energy storage facility (120, 220), the first component and the second component separately.

There is provided an energy management method, comprising steps of conducting (304) electric energy from an energy production plant (110, 112, 114, 140) to an energy storage facility (120, 220), applying, in the energy storage facility (120, 220), the received electric energy on a chemical compound (222) to separate the chemical compound to a first component (224) and a second component (226), and storing (306), in the energy storage facility (120, 220), the first component and the second component separately.

A method for extracting uranium with a coupling device of wind power generation and uranium extraction from seawater includes the following steps: adding oxygen vacancy (OV)-containing In.sub.2O.sub.3-x to absolute ethanol, and subjecting a resulting mixture to stirring and ultrasonic treatment to obtain a solution of In.sub.2O.sub.3-x in absolute ethanol; coating the solution uniformly on carbon cloth, and drying to obtain carbon cloth coated with OV-containing In.sub.2O.sub.3-x; inserting the coated carbon cloth (as a working electrode) and another blank carbon cloth (as a counter electrode) into a plastic carrier of a coupling device; fixing a small wind power generation apparatus above the plastic carrier, and connecting the working electrode and the counter electrode to a storage battery of the apparatus via wires; and placing the coupling device in seawater, and after the storage battery is charged, energizing the working electrode and the counter electrode to extract uranium from the seawater.