Claims
- 1. Apparatus for the production of metal zirconium by a reduction reaction comprising the reduction of Zr tetrachloride by means of molten magnesium, comprising a reactor having a hearth plate, means for sublimation of the Zr tetrachloride to gaseous form and means for supplying the gaseous Zr tetrachloride to the interior of the reactor, means for separation of the magnesium chloride formed in the reduction reaction from the metal Zr formed and the magnesium, heating means and vacuum producing means, wherein the means for separation of the magnesium chloride comprises a chimney having a bottom end portion fixed to an orifice in the hearth plate and an open top end provided with means for preventing Zr from dropping into the chimney comprising cap means surmounting the chimney and connected to the chimney by spaced supports defining apertures in the chimney.
- 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apertures and spaced supports comprise means for lifting the chimney.
- 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the cap means is of a thickness of at least 10 mm and wherein the supports comprise at least two lugs, each having a cross-section of at least 400 mm.sup.2.
- 4. Apparatus for the production of metal zirconium by reduction of Zr tetrachloride with molten magnesium, resulting in a mass of Zr, Mg and supernatant, molten MgCl.sub.2, comprising:
- a reactor;
- a hearth plate for collecting said mass thereon disposed laterally across the interior of said reactor, said hearth plate having an orifice therein, and defining a portion of said reactor above said hearth plate, and a portion of said reactor below said hearth plate;
- means for supplying gaseous Zr tetrachloride to the interior of said reactor above said hearth plate;
- means for heating said reactor;
- means for drawing a vacuum in said reactor;
- chimney means having one end sealingly fixed to the orifice in said hearth plate, and rising therefrom above said hearth plate to a top end at a level corresponding to the expected height of the supernatant MgCl.sub.2 at the conclusion of the reduction, said chimney means being at least partially open to its interior at said top end, thereby providing communication and a flow path for molten MgCl.sub.2 from the interior of said reactor at said top end through said chimney means and said orifice and to the interior of said reactor below said hearth plate;
- means for removing molten MgCl.sub.2 from the reactor disposed in the interior of said reactor below said hearth plate.
- 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 additionally comprising cap means surmounting the chimney and connecting to the chimney by spaced supports defining apertures in the chimney.
- 6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the bottom end portion of the chimney is fitted into the orifice in the hearth plate and is connected to the hearth plate by means being removably fitted therein.
- 7. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein above its open top end the chimney comprises a lifting portion formed by a cap connected to said end by an apertured connecting portion.
- 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the connecting portion comprises at least two lugs, said lugs at every level each being of a horizontal cross section of greater than 400 mm.sup.2, and the cap is of a thickness of greater than or equal to 10 mm.
- 9. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the chimney comprises, in an upward direction, a bottom end portion which is fitted into the orifice in the hearth plate, one or more relief portions comprising means for supporting a Zr sponge cake, a cylindrical or frustoconical portion having a transverse open top end disposed above the portion of Zr, Mg metallic mass collected on said hearth plate and bordering the chimney and above the open top end an apertured connecting portion surmounted by a cap.
- 10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the sponge cake support relief portion or portions comprise at least one relief portion which rests on the hearth plate.
- 11. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the open top end of the chimney is 10 to 50 mm above the portion of the metallic mass bordering the chimney.
- 12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the open top end of the chimney is 25 to 40 mm above the portion of the metallic mass bordering the chimney.
- 13. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the reactor has a maximum internal diameter of between 1000 and 2000 mm and wherein the internal diameter of the chimney is between 50 and 250 mm.
- 14. Apparatus for the production of metal zirconium by reduction of Zr tetrachloride with molten magnesium, resulting in a mass of Zr, Mg and supernatant, molten MgCl.sub.2, comprising:
- a reactor;
- a hearth plate for collecting said mass thereon disposed laterally across the interior of said reactor, said hearth plate having an orifice therein, and defining a portion of said reactor above said hearth plate, and a portion of said reactor below said hearth plate;
- means for supplying gaseous Zr tetrachloride to the interior of said reactor above said hearth plate;
- means for heating said reactor;
- means for drawing a vacuum in said reactor;
- chimney means having one end removably fitted into the orifice in the hearth plate and thereby sealingly fixed to the orifice in said hearth plate, and rising therefrom above said hearth plate to a top end at a level corresponding to the expected height of the supernatant MgCl.sub.2 at the conclusion of the reduction, said chimney means being at least partially open to its interior at said top end, thereby providing communication and a flow path for molten MgCl.sub.2 from the interior of said reactor at said top end through said chimney means and said orifice and to the interior of said reactor below said hearth plate;
- a cap connected to the open top end of said chimney means by an apertured connecting portion, said cap and connecting portion comprising a lifting portion;
- means for removing molten MgCl.sub.2 from the reactor disposed in the interior of said reactor below said hearth plate.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
86 13306 |
Sep 1986 |
FRX |
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Parent Case Info
This is a divisional of co-pending application Ser. No. 94,425 filed on 9/9/87, now Pat. No. 4,752,331.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
94425 |
Sep 1987 |
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