Patent ID: 6866768
Filing Date: 2005-03-15
Classification: C25C

Abstract:
1. A method of producing aluminum in an electrolytic cell containing alumina dissolved in a molten electrolyte, the method comprising: (a) providing a molten salt electrolyte having alumina dissolved therein in an electrolytic cell having a liner containing molten electrolyte and a pool of molten aluminum, said liner having a cell bottom and walls extending upwardly from said cell bottom, said pool of molten aluminum located on said cell bottom and molten electrolyte located on top of said pool of molten aluminum; (b) locating an anode assembly in said electrolyte above said pool of molten aluminum, said anode assembly comprised of: (c) providing a cathode in each of said cathode slots, said cathode having a bottom end, said anode bottom having an opening therein opposite said bottom end of said cathode; (d) passing electric current through said anode assembly to flow electric current from said anode panels through said electrolyte to said (e) draining aluminum from said bottom end of said cathode through said opening in said anode bottom to said pool of molten aluminum; and (f) circulating molten electrolyte upwardly in said cathode slot between said anode panels and said cathode and downwardly outside said cathode slots.