Apparatus and method of carbothermic aluminium production

摘要

The apparatus system includes a carbothermic reactor and an electrical supply. The reactor includes a plurality of side-entering electrodes and a top-entering electrode. The electrical supply may be operable to supply multiphase current to the side-entering electrodes and/or the top-entering electrodes. The electrodes are in communication with a molten bath of the reactor, and the multiphase current supplied thereto is passed through the bath to heat the reactor. The amount of current supplied to various electrode sets may be adjusted to facilitate tailored heating of the molten bath. In the method of carbothermic aluminium production using a reactor with a top-entering electrode and plural side-entering electrodes a feedstock supply path is provided defined by a port in the cover of the the reactor and a top electrode entering through said port in the reactor chamber. Off-gas from the carbothermic reactor is flown into the feedstock supply path to preheat the feedstock of aluminium and carbon reductant.