Products, systems, and methods for transporting metal

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to products, systems, and methods for producing purified liquid metal (e.g., purified aluminum) from a feedstock (e.g., aluminum feedstock) in an electrolytic cell (e.g., purification cell) by purifying the feedstock and moving the purified liquid metal from a first location of the cell to a second location via at least one directing feature. The at least one directing feature may be electrically neutral and may be located proximal the first location. The at least one directing feature may be in fluid communication with the purified liquid metal (e.g., purified aluminum) and the second location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 (a) purifying a feedstock in an electrolytic cell, thereby producing a purified liquid metal; and   (b) moving the purified liquid metal from a first location of the electrolytic cell towards a second location, wherein the moving comprises transporting the purified liquid metal via a directing feature, wherein the directing feature is located proximal the first location, wherein the directing feature is in fluid communication with the purified liquid metal and the second location.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the directing feature is electrically neutral. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the directing feature is at least partially submerged in the purified liquid metal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the directing feature is partially submerged in an electrolyte. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the directing feature is fully submerged in the purified liquid metal. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a substrate comprises the directing feature. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the substrate is a regular shape or an irregular shape. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the substrate is arcuate. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the substrate is oriented in a vertical direction. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the substrate is oriented in a horizontal direction. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the substrate is oriented in a sloped direction. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the substrate comprises at least one of a ceramic or cermet. 
     
     
         13 . The method of any of  claim 6 , wherein the substrate is proximal or adjacent to at least one refractory component of the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the substrate is mechanically connected to the at least one refractory component. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one refractory component is a refractory cover. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one refractory component is a refractory sidewall. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the moving step (b) comprises moving the purified liquid metal in a predetermined direction. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the directing feature comprises at least one of slots, grooves, pores, tapered members, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second location is a purified metal reservoir. 
     
     
         20 . An electrolytic cell, comprising:
 (a) a cell chamber comprising a cell bottom, refractory sidewalls, a refractory top cover, an electrolyte, and purified liquid metal;   (b) an anode at least partially submerged in the electrolyte;   (c) a cathode at least partially submerged in the electrolyte;   (d) a cell exit location; and   (e) a directing feature, wherein the directing feature is located proximal the purified liquid metal, wherein the directing feature is in fluid communication with the purified liquid metal and the cell exit location, and wherein the directing feature is configured to direct the purified liquid metal in a predetermined direction associated with the cell exit location.