Method and Apparatus for Producing Ti Through Reduction by Ca

Abstract

An apparatus for producing Ti by Ca reduction by the invention includes a reaction tank retaining a molten salt in which a molten salt CaCl 2 is contained and Ca is dissolved, an electrolytic cell retaining a molten salt containing CaCl 2 , and a continuum body which is movably constructed while part of the continuum body is immersed in the molten salt either within the reaction tank or electrolytic cell. In the inventive method for producing Ti by Ca reduction, the molten salt in the electrolytic cell is electrolyzed to generate Ca on the cathode side which is transported to the reaction tank while deposited on and adheres to the continuum body, and TiCl 4 is supplied to the reaction tank to generate Ti. The invention enables a feed rate of TiC1 4 as a raw material to be enhanced, and continuous production to be performed, while allowing Ca consumed in the TiCl 4 reduction reaction to be replenished by electrolysis of CaCl 2 , which proves to have an economical advantage, thus becoming means for efficiently and economically producing high-purity metallic Ti to widely be applied.

1 . A method for producing Ti through reduction by Ca, said method comprising:
 a Ti generation step wherein TiCl 4  is supplied to a reaction tank to generate Ti in a molten salt while said molten salt is retained in said reaction tank, the molten salt containing CaCl 2  and having Ca dissolved therein;   an electrolytic step wherein a molten salt is electrolyzed in an electrolytic cell to generate Ca on a cathode side while said molten salt is retained in said electrolytic cell, the molten salt containing CaCl 2 ; and   a Ca transportation step wherein the Ca generated in said electrolytic step is transported to said reaction tank while the Ca is deposited on and adheres to a continuum body in said electrolytic cell, said continuum body being movably constructed while part of said continuum body is immersed in said molten salt either within said reaction tank or electrolytic cell, and said transported Ca is caused to dissolve in said molten salt retained in said reaction tank.   
     
     
         2 . The method for producing Ti through reduction by Ca according to  claim 1 , wherein said continuum body is caused to function as a cathode. 
     
     
         3 . The method for producing Ti through reduction by Ca according to  claim 1 , wherein a cathode is provided near part of said continuum body, the part of said continuum body being immersed in said molten salt. 
     
     
         4 . The method for producing Ti through reduction by Ca as in  claim 1 , wherein said molten salt or said cathode in said electrolytic cell is kept at a temperature of a melting point of Ca or less. 
     
     
         5 . The method for producing Ti through reduction by Ca as in  claim 1 , wherein Ti generated in said Ti generation step is extracted to the outside of said reaction tank along with said molten salt, Ti is separated, and said molten salt is transported to said electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for producing Ti through reduction by Ca, said apparatus comprising:
 a reaction tank in which TiCI 4  supplied to a molten salt is caused to react with Ca to generate Ti while said molten salt is retained, the molten salt containing CaCl 2  and having Ca dissolved therein;   an electrolytic cell which retains a molten salt containing CaCl 2 , said electrolytic cell including an anode and a cathode, said electrolytic cell performing electrolysis in said molten salt to generate Ca on said cathode side; and   a continuum body which is movably constructed while part of said continuum body is immersed in said molten salt either within said reaction tank or electrolytic cell, the continuum body transporting said generated Ca to said reaction tank while Ca is deposited on and adheres to the part immersed in said electrolytic cell, the continuum body causing said transported Ca to be dissolved in said molten salt retained in said reaction tank.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus for producing Ti through reduction by Ca according to  claim 6 , wherein said continuum body constitutes a cathode. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus for producing Ti through reduction by Ca according to  claim 6 , wherein a cathode is provided near part of said continuum body, the part of said continuum body being immersed in said molten salt. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus for producing Ti through reduction by Ca as in  claim 6 , wherein said molten salt or said cathode in said electrolytic cell is kept at a temperature of a melting point of Ca or less. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus for producing Ti through reduction by Ca as in  claim 6 , comprising means for separating Ti from said molten salt to transport said molten salt to said electrolytic cell after said Ti separation, the Ti being generated in said reaction tank and extracted to the outside of said reaction tank along with said molten salt. 
     
     
         11 . The method for producing Ti through reduction by Ca as in  claim 2 , wherein said molten salt or said cathode in said electrolytic cell is kept at a temperature of a melting point of Ca or less. 
     
     
         12 . The method for producing Ti through reduction by Ca as in  claim 3 , wherein said molten salt or said cathode in said electrolytic cell is kept at a temperature of a melting point of Ca or less. 
     
     
         13 . The method for producing Ti through reduction by Ca as in  claim 2 , wherein Ti generated in said Ti generation step is extracted to the outside of said reaction tank along with said molten salt, Ti is separated, and said molten salt is transported to said electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         14 . The method for producing Ti through reduction by Ca as in  claim 3 , wherein Ti generated in said Ti generation step is extracted to the outside of said reaction tank along with said molten salt, Ti is separated, and said molten salt is transported to said electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         15 . The method for producing Ti through reduction by Ca as in  claim 4 , wherein Ti generated in said Ti generation step is extracted to the outside of said reaction tank along with said molten salt, Ti is separated, and said molten salt is transported to said electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus for producing Ti through reduction by Ca as in  claim 7 , wherein said molten salt or said cathode in said electrolytic cell is kept at a temperature of a melting point of Ca or less. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus for producing Ti through reduction by Ca as in  claim 8 , wherein said molten salt or said cathode in said electrolytic cell is kept at a temperature of a melting point of Ca or less. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus for producing Ti through reduction by Ca as in  claim 7 , comprising means for separating Ti from said molten salt to transport said molten salt to said electrolytic cell after said Ti separation, the Ti being generated in said reaction tank and extracted to the outside of said reaction tank along with said molten salt. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus for producing Ti through reduction by Ca as in  claim 8 , comprising means for separating Ti from said molten salt to transport said molten salt to said electrolytic cell after said Ti separation, the Ti being generated in said reaction tank and extracted to the outside of said reaction tank along with said molten salt. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus for producing Ti through reduction by Ca as in  claim 9 , comprising means for separating Ti from said molten salt to transport said molten salt to said electrolytic cell after said Ti separation, the Ti being generated in said reaction tank and extracted to the outside of said reaction tank along with said molten salt.