Molten metal reactor utilizing molten metal flow for feed material and reaction product entrapment

Abstract

A molten metal reactor quickly entrains a feed material in the molten reactant metal and provides the necessary contact between the molten reactant metal and the feed material to effect the desired chemical reduction of the feed material. The reactor includes a unique feed structure adapted to quickly entrain the feed material into the molten reactant metal and then transfer the molten reactant metal, feed material, and initial reaction products into a treatment chamber. A majority of the desired reactions occur in the treatment chamber. Reaction products and unspent reactant metal are directed from the treatment chamber to an output chamber where reaction products are removed from the reactor. Unspent reactant metal is then transferred to a heating chamber where it is reheated for recycling through the system.

1 . A molten metal reactor including:
 (a) a treatment chamber having a treatment chamber inlet;   (b) a feed chamber having a feed chamber outlet located adjacent to the treatment chamber inlet;   (c) an output chamber connected to an outlet of the treatment chamber to receive molten reactant metal and reaction products from the treatment chamber;   (d) a molten reactant metal source connected to direct molten reactant metal into the feed chamber; and   (e) a feed arrangement for releasing feed material into the feed chamber at a point that is spaced apart from a lateral wall of the feed chamber and adjacent to the feed chamber outlet, the feed material comprising material to be reacted with the molten reactant metal.   
     
     
         2 . The molten metal reactor of  claim 1  wherein the feed arrangement includes a feed chute extending vertically through a portion of the feed chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The molten metal reactor of  claim 1  wherein the feed arrangement includes a feed chute having a portion that extends transversely through the feed chamber in a direction from one lateral side of the feed chamber toward an opposite lateral side of the feed chamber.