Improvements in Apparatus for the Electrolysis of Chloride of Aluminium.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 10th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Electrolysis of Chloride of
Aluminium.
I, CAMILLE ALPHONSE FAURE, of 15 Rue des Halles, Paris, France, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the clectrolysis of
chloride of aluminium. Aluminium is generally obtained from its chloride, by the
electrolysis of the double chloride of sodium and aluminium; in this operation the
chloride of aluminium alone is decomposed. In order to obviate the impoverishment
of the bath I automatically add this latter salt, and in order to render this operation
practical and to facilitate the electrolysis I employ the arrangement of apparatus
illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings and which are vertical sections
taken in planes at right angles to each other.
A is a cast iron tank having stone-ware lining B intended to prevent the cast
iron from being attacked by the chlorine. It is arranged over a fireplace E having
a door at O and an ash pit O¹ and is enclosed within a refractory casing or
envelope Ff. The tank is provided with a cast iron cover L, which carries the
carbon electrodes C. The tank contains a compound of suitable proportions of
chloride of sodium, and of aluminium up to the level indicated, and the said mixture
is maintained constant by the gradual addition of chloride of aluminium in pro-
portion to the decomposition of the latter. The copper conductors D D are
connected to the terminals of a dynamo in such a manner that the chlorine is
evolved upon the carbons C, and the aluminium is deposited upon the inner surface
of the cast iron tank.
The chlorine escapes at n and passes down the stone-ware pipe g into the
chamber m where it deposits the chloride carried over with it and finally passes off
at into a chamber containing lime for taking up the chlorine and forming chloride
of lime. The aluminium is deposited upon the surface of the tank in a solid state
because it has only been heated up to a temperature of about 300° Cent. When the
layer is sufficiently thick the tank is emptied of its double chloride, heat is applied
into ingot
up to about 700° Cent. and the aluminium runs through the tap hole
moulds.
P
In
his a cast iron cylinder that completes the covering of the tank and forms an
access-chamber to the bath without the chlorine being able to escape owing to the
stone-ware partition B. This chamber is moreover in communication with the
inert gases of the fireplace by means of a conduit 2, in such a manner that nothing
in the chamber is in contact with chlorine or can be attacked by the latter.
this cylinder are placed one or more cartridges (filled with solid chloride of
aluminium) such as the sheet metal cylinder K which is closed at top and open at
the bottom exactly at the level of the liquid in the tank. The surrounding heat
causes the chloride of aluminium in the cylinder K to melt, but it can only run
when the level of the bath falls, so that by this means the level and the composition
of the bath can be maintained at the desired point which however rises according
as the decomposition of the metal increases, but which is regulated by the
cartridges.
The cylinder K is provided with a suitable cover and serves for the transport
from one workshop to another of the chloride of aluminium in the solid state; it
may also be used for storing the chloride of aluminium.
1
T
1001

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Electrolysis of Chloride of
Aluminium.
I, CAMILLE ALPHONSE FAURE, of 15 Rue des Halles, Paris, France, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:—
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the electrolysis of
chloride of aluminium. Aluminium is usually obtained from its chloride by the
electrolysis of the double chloride of sodium and aluminium; in this operation the
chloride of aluminium alone is decomposed. In order to obviate the impoverish-
ment of the bath, I automatically add chloride of aluminium thereto, and in order
to render this operation practical, and to facilitate the electrolysis, I employ the
arrangement of apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings filed with my
Provisional Specification and which are vertical sections taken in planes at right
angles to each other.
A is a cast iron tank having a stone-ware lining B around its upper internal part
intended to prevent the cast iron from being attacked by the chlorine evolved at
the positive electrode. This tank is arranged over a fireplace E having a door at ()
and an ash pit O¹, and is enclosed within a refractory casing or envelope Ff. The
tank is provided with a cast iron cover L, which carries the carbon electrodes C.
The tank contains a compound of suitable proportions of chloride of sodium, and
chloride of aluminium up to about the level indicated, and the said mixture is
maintained constant by the gradual addition thereto of chloride of aluminium in
proportion to the decomposition of the latter. The copper conductors D D arc
connected to the terminals of a dynamo in such a manner that the chlorine is
evolved upon the carbons C, and the aluminium is deposited upon the inner surface
of the cast iron tank A.
The chlorine escapes at n and passes down the stone-ware pipe g into a chamber m
where it deposits any chloride carried over with it, and finally passes off at x into
a chamber which may advantageously contain lime for taking up the chlorine and
forming therewith chloride of lime in a manner well understood. The aluminium
is deposited upon the inner surface of the tank in a solid state for which purpose
the tank should only be heated up to a temperature of about 300° Cent. during the
electrolysis. When the layer of aluminium is sufficiently thick the tank is emptied
of its double chloride, and heated up to about 700° Cent. so as to melt the aluminium
which then runs through the tap hole into ingot moulds.
his a cast iron cylinder that completes the covering of the tank and forms an
access-chamber to the bath without the chlorine being able to escape into it owing
to the partition or lining B, the bottom of which is sealed on the bath. This
chamber is moreover filled with inert gases from the fireplace which enter by means
of a conduit 2, so that nothing in the chamber will be in contact with or can be
attacked by chlorine. Within the cylinder h is, or are placed one or more cartridges
consisting for example of a sheet metal cylinder K charged with solid chloride of
aluminium.
The cartridge cylinder K is closed at the top and is open at the bottom exactly
at the required level of the bath in the tank. The surrounding heat causes the
chloride of aluminium in the cylinder K to melt, but it can only run into the tank A
when the level of the bath falls, so that by this means the level and the composition
of the bath can be maintained at the desired point, the level, which tends to rise as
the deposition of the metal increases, being regulated by the cartridges.
The cylinder K is provided with a suitable cover, and serves for the transport
from one workshop to another, of the chloride of aluminium in the solid state; it
may also be used, for storing the chloride of aluminium.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :
1. In apparatus for the electrolysis of chloride of aluminium, a cylinder K
charged with chloride of aluminium, and so arranged that the chloride of aluminium
therein will melt and maintain a constant level of the bath in the tank or vessel
wherein the chloride is decomposed substantially as herein described.
2. Apparatus for the electrolysis of chloride of aluminium, comprising a tank or
vessel A for containing the melted chloride of aluminium to be decomposed in
which are immersed carbon electrodes C fixed to a conductor D, said tank or vessel
being connected with another conductor D, and provided with an outlet for molten
aluminium, and with a stone-ware partition B adapted to protect its upper part
from the action of chlorine and to prevent chlorine from passing into a supply
vessel or chamber containing solid chloride of aluminium, substantially as herein
described.
3. The improved apparatus for the electrolysis of chloride of aluminium and
production of aluminium, and for receiving chloride of aluminium carried over with
the escaping chlorine substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 10th day of An 1901
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.