PROCESS AND REACTOR FOR PRODUCTION OF ALUMINIUM BY CARBOTHERMIC REDUCTION OF ALUMINA

摘要

A process for the production of aluminium metal which comprises maintaining a body of molten slag in an essentially vertical column by passage of electric current through said slag between upper and lower electrodes in contact with such slag, maintaining layer of feed carbon and alumina in particulate form floating on said body of slag and passing evolved gases upwardly through the layer. The slag at the upper end of the column may be in communication with a laterally displaced settlement chamber in which quiescent conditions are maintained to allow upward settlement of Al droplets to form a product layer. The electrodes are graphite and are heavily cooled to protect them from attack by the slag. The upper electrode is conveniently arranged in the settlement chamber.