GB543319A - Furnace or cell for carrying out aluminium refining process - Google Patents

Abstract

543,319. Electrolytic refining of aluminium. BIRMINGHAM ALUMINIUM CASTING (1903) CO., Ltd., PRITCHARD, P., and TAYLOR, G. O. Sept. 26, 1940, No. 14576. [Class 41] In an electrolytic furnace or cell for refining aluminium, a chamber containing layers of impure aluminium, electrolyte, and pure aluminium is enclosed by a refractory lining c of tapered magnesite or other suitable blocks spaced from an outer casing a lined with refractory blocks b to form an annular chamber g through which air is circulated by a fan or blower for cooling purposes. The chamber is provided with a partition i on opposite sides of which air inlet and outlet pipes h, j are arranged preferably tangentially. The annular chamber g may be provided with baffles. The blocks of the lining c are clamped together by a band d which may be formed in sections bolted together and such band may be utilized for lifting the lining off the floor e. Air may pass from the upper part of the annular chamber g through a gap n between the top of the chamber and the lining c for cooling the electrodes o and powdered salts of the same composition as the electrolyte scattered on the surface of the pure aluminium in the cell. Pure aluminium is tapped through a passage q at the top of the lining c communicating with a spout r. Impure aluminium may be tapped through a passage t in the carbon block f to a spout s provided with a plug u closed by springs v. The carbon block f forms a part or the whole of the floor of the cell and carries the cell current to the impure aluminium at the bottom of the cell.