METHOD OF PRODUCTION OF ALUMINIUM BY ELECTROLYSIS IN CRIOLYTE-ALUMINOUS MELT Russian patent published in 2010 - IPC C25C3/06 

FIELD: metallurgy.

SUBSTANCE: method consists in filling capacity of electrolytic tank with cathode on bottom of cryolite-aluminous mixture. The electrolytic tank is arranged in volume of the vacuum chamber. Pressure in the vacuum chamber is dropped to not more, than 10^-2-10^-3 mm of mercury column by continuous pumping out and further pressure is maintained at this level during the whole process of electrolysis. Cryolite-aluminous mixture is heated to temperature of melting at lowered pressure in the vacuum chamber; further temperature of mixture is maintained at this level. Upon melting cryolite-aluminous mixture, an anode is held above surface of melt of the said mixture at an interval between the anode and melt surface eliminating their mechanical contact. Simultaneously there is created gas plasma with concentration of charge carriers not less, than 10⁹-10¹⁰ cm^-3 in space between surface of melt of cryolite-aluminous mixture and anode; positive electrical bias is supplied to the anode and melted cryolite-aluminous mixture is subject to electrolysis.

EFFECT: increased service life of anode and upgraded ecological compatibility of aluminium production.

1 dwg, 1 tbl