SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FEEDING SOLID MATERIAL AND A GAS INTO AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL
Systems and methods for feeding solid material and a gas into a container (e.g., electrolytic cell) are generally described. Certain methods comprise feeding solid material and a gas into an electrolytic cell through an inlet; wherein: the gas comprises an inert gas; and the inlet is positioned, relative to an anode of the electrolytic cell, within a distance that is less than or equal to 5 times the shortest cross-sectional dimension of the anode. Certain systems comprise a container configured for molten salt electrolysis; a passageway configured for feeding solid material and a gas into the container; an anode; a cathode; and an outlet configured for releasing a gas from the 10 container; wherein an inlet from the passageway to the container is positioned, relative to the anode, within a distance that is less than or equal to 5 times the shortest cross-sectional dimension of the anode.
1 . (canceled)
2 . A system, comprising:
a container configured for molten salt electrolysis;
a passageway fluidically connected to the container and configured for feeding solid material and an inert gas into the container;
one or more anodes, wherein each anode is positioned at least partially within the container;
one or more cathodes, wherein each cathode is positioned at least partially within the container; and
an outlet at or near the top of the container configured for releasing a gas from the container;
wherein an inlet from the passageway to the container is positioned closer to one of the anodes than to any of the cathodes.
3 . A system, comprising:
a container configured for molten salt electrolysis;
a passageway fluidically connected to the container and configured for feeding solid material and a gas into the container;
an anode at least partially within the container;
a cathode at least partially within the container; and
an outlet at or near the top of the container configured for releasing a gas from the container;
wherein an inlet from the passageway to the container is positioned, relative to the anode, within a distance that is less than or equal to 5 times the shortest cross-sectional dimension of the anode.
4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the anode is a first anode and the system further comprises a second anode.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the inlet is equidistant from the first and second anodes.
6 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the cathode is a first cathode and the system further comprises a second cathode.
7 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the passageway is electrically isolated.
8 . The system of claim 2 , wherein an inlet from the passageway to the container is positioned, relative to the anode, within a distance that is less than or equal to 5 times the shortest cross-sectional dimension of the anode.
9 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the inlet is positioned, relative to the anode, within a distance that is less than or equal to 3 times the shortest cross-sectional dimension of the anode.
10 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the inlet is positioned, relative to the anode, within a distance that is less than or equal to 2 times the shortest cross-sectional dimension of the anode.
11 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the passageway comprises a helical drive feeder.
12 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising an inlet valve configured to isolate the container from the passageway.
13 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising an outlet valve configured to isolate the container from the outlet.
14 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the passageway further comprises a port for supplying the inert gas to the passageway upstream from the inlet.
15 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the passageway is electrically grounded.
16 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the system further comprises a hopper configured to supply the passageway with the solid material.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the hopper is electrically grounded.
18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the hopper comprises a pellet breaker and/or a vibratory cannon.
19 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the inlet comprises an opening through which both the inert gas and the solid material are configured to be fed into the container.
20 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the inlet comprises a second opening through which both the inert gas and the solid material are configured to be fed into the container.
21 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the outlet comprises an opening that is positioned above the inlet.