A method of and system for electrolytic production of reactive metals is presented. The method includes providing a molten oxide electrolytic cell including a container, an anode, and a current collector and disposing a molten oxide electrolyte within the container and in ion conducting contact with the anode and the current collector. The electrolyte includes a mixture of at least one alkaline earth oxide and at least one rare earth oxide. The method also includes providing a metal oxide feedstock including at least one target metal species into the molten oxide electrolyte and applying a current between the anode and the current collector, thereby reducing the target metal species to form at least one molten target metal in the container.

A method of and system for electrolytic production of reactive metals is presented. The method includes providing a molten oxide electrolytic cell including a container, an anode, and a current collector and disposing a molten oxide electrolyte within the container and in ion conducting contact with the anode and the current collector. The electrolyte includes a mixture of at least one alkaline earth oxide and at least one rare earth oxide. The method also includes providing a metal oxide feedstock including at least one target metal species into the molten oxide electrolyte and applying a current between the anode and the current collector, thereby reducing the target metal species to form at least one molten target metal in the container.

A method for recycling molten salt from electrorefining processes, the method having the steps of collecting actinide metal using a first plurality of cathodes from an electrolyte bath, collecting rare earths metal using a second plurality of cathodes from the electrolyte bath, inserting the collected actinide metal and uranium into the bath, and chlorinating the inserted actinide metal and uranium. Also provided is a system for recycling molten salt, the system having a vessel adapted to receive and heat electrolyte salt, a first plurality of cathodes adapted to be removably inserted into the vessel, a second plurality of cathodes adapted to be removably inserted into the vessel, an anode positioned within the vessel so as to be coaxially aligned with the vessel, and a vehicle for inserting uranium into the salt.

A method for recycling molten salt from electrorefining processes, the method having the steps of collecting actinide metal using a first plurality of cathodes from an electrolyte bath, collecting rare earths metal using a second plurality of cathodes from the electrolyte bath, inserting the collected actinide metal and uranium into the bath, and chlorinating the inserted actinide metal and uranium. Also provided is a system for recycling molten salt, the system having a vessel adapted to receive and heat electrolyte salt, a first plurality of cathodes adapted to be removably inserted into the vessel, a second plurality of cathodes adapted to be removably inserted into the vessel, an anode positioned within the vessel so as to be coaxially aligned with the vessel, and a vehicle for inserting uranium into the salt.

Electrorefining cells and methods for electrorefining ferrous molten metal (e.g. steels), that includes impurities (e.g., carbon), are described. Liquid metal is provided in ladle with a molten electrolyte on top of it to form a metal-electrolyte interface. An electrode connection is put into contact with the metal for electronic conduction therewith, while a counter electrode is put into contact with the electrolyte for forming an electrolyte-counter electrode interface. Both the electrode connection and the counter electrode remain in the solid form in, and inert to, the metal and the electrolyte, respectively. The electrode connection and the counter electrode are made of an electronically conductive material. Therefore, during electrorefining operations, an electromotive force can be supplied between the electrode connection and the counter electrode so as to induce electrochemical reactions to occur at both the metal-electrolyte interface and the electrolyte-counter electrode connection, producing a ferrous molten metal depleted of the impurities.

Electrorefining cells and methods for electrorefining ferrous molten metal (e.g. steels), that includes impurities (e.g., carbon), are described. Liquid metal is provided in ladle with a molten electrolyte on top of it to form a metal-electrolyte interface. An electrode connection is put into contact with the metal for electronic conduction therewith, while a counter electrode is put into contact with the electrolyte for forming an electrolyte-counter electrode interface. Both the electrode connection and the counter electrode remain in the solid form in, and inert to, the metal and the electrolyte, respectively. The electrode connection and the counter electrode are made of an electronically conductive material. Therefore, during electrorefining operations, an electromotive force can be supplied between the electrode connection and the counter electrode so as to induce electrochemical reactions to occur at both the metal-electrolyte interface and the electrolyte-counter electrode connection, producing a ferrous molten metal depleted of the impurities.

Metals are smelted properly. An electrolytic smelting furnace includes a furnace body, a furnace bottom electrode provided at a bottom part in the furnace body, and an upper electrode provided above the furnace bottom electrode in the furnace body, and the upper electrode includes a conductive compound with a spinel-type structure.

Metals are smelted properly. An electrolytic smelting furnace includes a furnace body, a furnace bottom electrode provided at a bottom part in the furnace body, and an upper electrode provided above the furnace bottom electrode in the furnace body, and the upper electrode includes a conductive compound with a spinel-type structure.

An alternating current electrolysis system, as well as a method and a device for controlling the alternating current electrolysis system are provided. The method includes: acquiring a voltage amplitude at an alternating current side of an electrolysis rectification power supply; and modifying an output parameter of the electrolysis rectification power supply based on the voltage amplitude. Compared with the conventional technology, the problem of oscillation of a power grid due to unbalanced power of the alternating current electrolysis system is effectively solved, thereby facilitating normal operation of a electrolysis station.

An alternating current electrolysis system, as well as a method and a device for controlling the alternating current electrolysis system are provided. The method includes: acquiring a voltage amplitude at an alternating current side of an electrolysis rectification power supply; and modifying an output parameter of the electrolysis rectification power supply based on the voltage amplitude. Compared with the conventional technology, the problem of oscillation of a power grid due to unbalanced power of the alternating current electrolysis system is effectively solved, thereby facilitating normal operation of a electrolysis station.