US2025382718A1PendingUtilityA1

Systems and methods for feeding solid material and a gas into an electrolytic cell

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Assignee: PHOENIX TAILINGS INCPriority: Sep 9, 2022Filed: Jun 17, 2025Published: Dec 18, 2025
Est. expirySep 9, 2042(~16.1 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Thomas Anthony Villalon, Jr.Richard Robert Salvucci
C25C 7/06C25C 7/005C25C 3/22C25B 1/26C25B 1/245C25B 1/02C25B 15/08C25C 3/26C25C 3/04C25C 3/34C25C 3/02C25C 3/28C25C 3/14
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Claims

Abstract

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.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
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.

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