CATHODE PARTS WITH SURFACES WETTED BY LIQUID ALUMINUM ARE INTRODUCED IN ELECTROLYTIC CELLS TO PRODUCE PRIMARY ALUMINUM SUCH THAT THEY ADJUST TO THE RISING AND FALLING METAL LEVEL.

CATHODE PARTS WITH SURFACES WETTED BY LIQUID ALUMINUM ARE INTRODUCED IN ELECTROLYTIC CELLS TO PRODUCE PRIMARY ALUMINUM SUCH THAT THEY ADJUST TO THE RISING AND FALLING METAL LEVEL. THE PARTS PROVIDE CATHODE AREA AT A DISTANCE FROM THE ANODE THAT IS SMALLER THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN LIQUID METAL SURFACE AND ANODE. IN THE PRESENT PHASE I, THE FEASIBILITY OF THE CONCEPT WILL BE INVESTIGATED IN ROOM TEMPERATURE MODEL STUDIES, PARTS DESIGNED AND SUBJECTED TO PRELIMINARY HIGH-TEMPERATURE TESTING. IT IS PROJECTED THAT 9 - 15 PERCENT OF ELECTRIC ENERGY COULD BE SAVED IN THE PRODUCTION OF PRIMARY ALUMINUM IN RETROFITTED HALL-HEROULT CELLS.