Patent ID: 7704443

Claim:
A system comprising: a carbothermic reactor comprising: a chamber adapted to contain a molten bath, the chamber being at least partially defined by an outer shell and a floor of the carbothermic aluminum production reactor; a first set of side-entering electrodes penetrating the outer shell and in communication with the chamber; a second set of side-entering electrodes penetrating the outer shell and in communication with the chamber; a single top-entering electrode in communication with the chamber, wherein the top-entering electrode is moveable in the up-down directions; and a cover substantially covering the chamber, wherein the cover comprises a first port for receiving the single top-entering electrode, and wherein the cover comprises at least one additional port for receiving feedstock to be fed to the chamber; and an electrical supply in electrical communication with the first and second sets of side-entering electrodes, wherein the electrical supply is adapted to supply a different voltage phase to each electrode of the first set of side-entering electrodes or impose phase shifting on each electrode of the first set of side-entering electrodes; and wherein the electrical supply is adapted to supply a different voltage phase to each electrode of the second set of side-entering electrodes or impose phase shifting on each electrode of the second set of side-entering electrodes.