GB1132052A - Method for discharging spent alloy from aluminium sub-halide distillation system - Google Patents

Abstract

1,132,052. Distilling aluminium; iron alloy. ALUMINIUM LABORATORIES Ltd. Jan.14, 1966 [Feb.3,1965], No.1968/66. Headings C7A and C7D. Spent solid alloy is removed from the converter of an aluminium subhalide distillation system by feeding spent alloy from the converter into an enclosed passage, the bottom end of which is closed by a water seal and supplying sufficient moisture free purge gas to the upper end of said enclosed passage to prevent the downward movement of aluminium trihalide from the converter into the lower part of the enclosed passage, said purge gas being generated within said passage by contacting descending spent alloy with water, a sufficient column of hot spent alloy usually maintained in said passage above the point at which water is admitted to ensure that purge gas rising into the upper part of the passage is moisture free. The spent alloy may be sprayed with water in the lower part of the passage to generate moisture laden gas which is dried by contact with the hot spent alloy. In Fig. 1 hot spent alloy descending through pipe 18, housing 22 and pipe 24 passes successively through a water vapour reacting zone in pipe 20, a cooling section in pipe 24 between spray heads 32 and the water level 30 at the bottom of pipe 24. In each of these zones CH 4 and H 2 are produced by contact of the alloy with water or water vapour. The spent alloy may have the following composition:- Fe 50 to 70%, Al 3 to 15%, Si 5 to 15%, Ti 3 to 8%, C 7 to 12%.