Electrolytic cell with improved feed device

摘要

A cell is disclosed for the electrowinning of a metal (70) from a compound thereof dissolved in a molten electrolyte comprises: a thermally insulated cell trough (10,20) and a thermally insulated cell cover (30) which are arranged to contain an electrolyte (40) and maintain it in a substantially crustless molten state; and a feeder (50) for feeding a particulate (60) of the metal compound to the molten electrolyte (40). The feeder (50) comprises a feeding tube (51) extending into the cell trough (10,20) and has a tubular end portion (52) which is located between the molten electrolyte (40) and the insulating cell cover (30) and which has a substantially horizontal axial direction. The feeder (50) is arranged to feed the particulate (60) into the feeding tube (51), along the feeding tube (51) and through an opening (53) in the tubular end portion (52) from where it is delivered over the molten electrolyte (40). The opening (53) is located at an end of the tubular end portion (52) and is arranged to deliver the particulate (60) from the feeding tube (51) substantially along the axial direction of the tubular end portion (52). The end opening (53) can be coaxial with the tubular end portion (52) or off-axis.