Abstract: A belt cooling and guiding apparatus for a casting belt of a twin belt caster. The cooling and guiding apparatus includes at least one nozzle having a support surface facing a reverse surface of the casting belt (a surface opposite to a casting surface in the casting mold), provided with a continuous slot in the support surface arranged transversely substantially completely across the casting belt. The slot allows for delivery of cooling liquid to the reverse surface of the belt in the form of a continuous film having uniform thickness and velocity of flow when considered in the transverse direction of the belt. This allows for even cooling transversely of the belt. The nozzle arrangement is also provided with a drainage opening for removal of cooling liquid downstream from the continuous slot, and a vacuum system associated with the drainage opening for applying suction to the drainage opening.

Abstract: A belt cooling and guiding apparatus for a casting belt of a twin belt caster. The cooling and guiding apparatus comprises at least one nozzle having a support surface facing a reverse surface of the casting belt (a surface opposite to a casting surface in the casting mold), provided with a continuous slot in the support surface arranged transversely substantially completely across the casting belt. The slot allows for delivery of cooling liquid to the reverse surface of the belt in the form of a continuous film having uniform thickness and velocity of flow when considered in the transverse direction of the belt. This allows for even cooling transversely of the belt. The nozzle arrangement is also provided with a drainage opening for removal of cooling liquid downstream from the continuous slot, and a vacuum system associated with the drainage opening for applying suction to the drainage opening.

Abstract: A belt cooling and guiding apparatus for a casting belt of a twin belt caster. The cooling and guiding apparatus comprises at least one nozzle having a support surface facing a reverse surface of the casting belt (a surface opposite to a casting surface in the casting mold), provided with a continuous slot in the support surface arranged transversely substantially completely across the casting belt. The slot allows for delivery of cooling liquid to the reverse surface of the belt in the form of a continuous film having uniform thickness and velocity of flow when considered in the transverse direction of the belt. This allows for even cooling transversely of the belt. The nozzle arrangement is also provided with a drainage opening for removal of cooling liquid downstream from the continuous slot, and a vacuum system associated with the drainage opening for applying suction to the drainage opening.

Abstract: A layer of liquid parting agent, and any solid detritus contained therein, is completely removed from a casting surface of a rotating belt after contact with molten metal. A new layer of liquid parting agent is applied to the casting surface thereafter and prior to renewed contact with the molten metal. The removal of used parting agent and the application of fresh helps to prevent the formation of surface blemishes and defects on the cast metal strip product. Such blemishes and defects can also be minimized by using an injector having a flexible tip used to inject the molten metal onto the casting surface and preferably one or more spacers to create a gap between the tip and the casting surface itself. The spacer is preferably a screen of wire strands orientated to minimize disruption of the new layer of liquid parting agent applied to the casting surface. By avoiding disruption of the new layer of liquid parting agent, surface blemishes on the cast product are minimized.

Abstract: In a process for producing anhydrous magnesium chloride, the following combination of steps: drying impure salt containing hydrated magnesium chloride; establishing a solution of the hydrated magnesium chloride; removing insoluble impurities; reacting the solution of hydrated magnesium chloride at substantially ambient temperature and pressure by feeding it into an ammonia saturated very low boiling point alcohol solution and in the presence of ammonium chloride while maintaining the last-mentioned solution saturated in ammonia thereby to form a precipitate of ammoniated magnesium chloride; separating the precipitate and heating it to obtain anhydrous MgCl.sub.2 and ammonia for recycling.

Abstract: A process for electrolytically producing magnesium metal from MgCl.sub.2 dissolved in an electrolyte, by conversion to the product metal and chlorine gas, wherein the MgCl.sub.2 content of the electrolyte is replenished by supplying thereto a feed having as components one or more magnesium chloride ammoniates for decomposition by the heat of the electrolyte into MgCl.sub.2 and ammonia gas. The feed, which may also include uncombined MgCl.sub.2, is delivered to the electrolyte at a location at which the generated ammonia does not come into reactive contact with the chlorine gas. The temperature of the electrolyte as well as its MgCl.sub.2 content can be controlled by selection of feed components, relative proportions, and rate of supply. The ammoniate content of the feed can be produced by reaction of ammonia with magnesium chloride hydrates, using the ammonia gas generated by the decomposition.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell for producing a metal, e.g. magnesium, by electrolysis has a housing in which are disposed one or more electrode assemblies each comprising a cathode assembly providing a vertical cavity in which are disposed an anode and one or more bipolar electrode assemblies disposed between the anode and cathode assembly, and baffles for preventing or impeding flow of electrolyte between adjacent cathode assemblies and/or between each cathode assembly and an adjacent wall of the housing.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for the production of a continuous uniform length of coherent metal. A cone 10 of atomized metal particles is deposited on a surface 12, which is continuously withdrawn in the form of a length of coherent metal 14. Shaping means 16 are provided to make the withdrawn deposit uniform along its length. The equipment is protected from the atmosphere by a hood 18 through which the length of metal is withdrawn through an aperture provided with a seal 20. Preferably, the deposit is of circular cross-section and is caused to rotate during withdrawal about its longitudinal axis. The equipment is suitable to form billet or rod or tube.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell for metal, particularly Mg, production includes a cathode or intermediate bipolar electrode having a cathodic face provided with a plurality of small cavities shaped to trap droplets of molten metal formed during electrolysis. The cavities help the metal droplets to coalesce and reduce the extent of back reaction with e.g. chlorine generated at the anode.

Abstract: A cell for producing magnesium or other metal by electrolysis of molten chloride or other electrolyte comprises at least one electrode assembly of an anode 24, at least one intermediate bipolar electrode 28, 30, 32, 34 and a cathode 26 defining generally vertical interelectrode spaces between them. To minimize current leakage, the intermediate bipolar electrodes preferably almost completely surround the anode including the edges and the bottom.In operation, a metal/electrolyte mixture is swept up the interelectrode spaces by generated chlorine gas and spills out over the cathode into a duct 20 behind the cathode, the duct including a restricted passage 58 for degassing and an inverted channel 62 to collect product metal and convey it to a metal collection chamber 18.The electrolyte surface is preferably maintained at about the level of the top edges of the intermediate bipolar electrodes by means of a level control device 22 submerged in electrolyte in the metal collection chamber.

Abstract: Electrolytic cells for production of Mg or other metal lighter than the molten electrolyte comprise electrode assemblies of anode 28, cathode 26 and intermediate bipolar electrodes 30 with substantially vertical regions 39 between them. The intermediate bipolar electrodes have open-top channels 50 along their top edges. An electrolyte/metal mixture rising from the interelectrode regions by gas lift is transported along these channels, substantially undisturbed by rising gas, to a weir 20 and then to a metal collection chamber 18. The electrolyte surface is kept at a constant level, preferably by means of a vessel 22 submerged in electrolyte in the metal collection chamber, to or from which molten electrolyte can be transferred to alter the surface level.

Abstract: Electrolytic cells for production of Mg or other metal lighter than the molten electrolyte comprise electrode assemblies of anode 28, cathode 26 and intermediate bipolar electrodes 30 with substantially vertical regions 39 between them. The intermediate bipolar electrodes have open-top channels 50 along their top edges. An electrolyte/metal mixture rising from the interelectrode regions by gas lift is transported along these channels, substantially undisturbed by rising gas, to a weir 20 and then to a metal collection chamber 18. The electrolyte surface is kept at a constant level, preferably by means of a vessel 22 submerged in electrolyte in the metal collection chamber, to or from which molten electrolyte can be transferred to alter the surface level.

Abstract: A cell for producing magnesium or other metal by electrolysis of molten chloride or other electrolyte comprises at least one electrode assembly of an anode 24, at least one intermediate bipolar electrode 28, 30, 32, 34 and a cathode 26 defining generally vertical interelectrode spaces between them. To minimize current leakage, the intermediate bipolar electrodes preferably almost completely surround the anode including the edges and the bottom.In operation, a metal/electrolyte mixture is swept up the interelectrode spaces by generated chlorine gas and spills out over the cathode into a duct 20 behind the cathode, the duct including a restricted passage 58 for degassing and an inverted channel 62 to collect product metal and convey it to a metal collection chamber 18.The electrolyte surface is preferably maintained to about the level of the top edges of the intermediate bipolar electrodes by means of a level control device 22 submerged in electrolyte in the metal collection chamber.

Abstract: Molten metal, such as aluminum, is held within rigid refractory lining means beneath, above and alongside the metal while heaters keep the outside of the lining means at a predetermined temperature desired for the metal, the heaters being surrounded by thermal insulation and the whole being surrounded by a fluid-cooled support. An unusually effective embodiment is pipe, with a tubular refractory liner to carry flowing metal, surrounded by sheathed heating elements controlled to keep the exterior of the tube at least at about the predetermined temperature, with the thermal insulation wrapped around the heaters and the enclosing support being a water-jacketed steel pipe. The operation is essentially adiabatic with respect to the refractory liner, delivering the molten metal essentially at its original temperature, with unusual saving of heat energy. When the heated pipeline has been drained, only easily removed, paper-thin skulls of solid metal remain.

Abstract: For supporting and cooling the reverse surfaces of belts in apparatus for continuously casting metal strip between such belts, means enclosing the reverse surface of a belt includes a multiplicity of guiding faces that are distributed closely both crosswise and lengthwise of the belt to define an intended belt path, and that have nozzle openings through which liquid coolant is projected against the belt, rapidly flowing out in a layer over the guiding face and being withdrawn at localities close to all of the guiding faces. The belt, which may be forced toward the faces to stabilize it in its desired path, thus rests on a layer of rapidly moving liquid coolant, which affords efficient heat removal and an essentially complete liquid bearing, such apparatus and procedure being also deemed applicable to cooling other surfaces.