Control of by-pass current in multi-polar light metal reduction cells

The invention relates to a multi-polar reduction cell for production of a light metal by electrolysis. The cell has an anode, a cathode, and at least one current-conducting multi-polar electrode interposed between the anode and the cathode. The cell has a molten electrolyte containing a metal salt t...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors ADAM J. GESING, DAVID K. CREBER
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 19.03.2009
Subjects
APPARATUS THEREFOR
CHEMISTRY
ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES
METALLURGY
PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY ORREFINING OF METALS
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Summary:The invention relates to a multi-polar reduction cell for production of a light metal by electrolysis. The cell has an anode, a cathode, and at least one current-conducting multi-polar electrode interposed between the anode and the cathode. The cell has a molten electrolyte containing a metal salt to be electrolyzed held within the cell and preferably has means to maintain an upper surface of the electrolyte at a predetermined level within the cell. The level is preferably maintained above the upper end of the multi-polar electrode(s), at least in use of the cell. The multi-polar electrode has an electrically insulating surface at its upper end that minimizes or eliminates by-pass current between the anode and cathode when the cell is operated. The invention also relates to the method of minimizing or eliminating the by-pass current.
Bibliography:Application Number: AU20080299528