EDWARD INTERESS
Engineering in Winchester, MA

5015288, May 14, 1991

Nov 29, 1989

7/443716

Charles L. Kusik - Lincoln MA
Edward Interess - Winchester MA

Gas Research Institute - Chicago IL

C22B 2106, F27B 304

75686

A method and apparatus are provided for combusting a gaseous fuel in molten salt to generate a heated recirculating salt bath for melting aluminum. Combustion products are prevented from directly contacting aluminum. Gaseous fuel is introduced into a chamber containing the molten salt bath through a lance beneath its surface. The combusting gas heats the salt bath and causes an upward flow. At the top of the chamber, combustion products separate from the molten salt, which then flows downward into a second chamber. In one embodiment of the invention, aluminum is introduced into the downward-flowing salt bath of the second chamber. Molten aluminum settles in the less-dense downward-flowing salt bath, which recirculates from the second chamber to the first chamber for reheating. A second embodiment utilizes an additional chamber in which the heated molten salt is flowed upward to enable counter-current contact of heated molten salt with aluminum. The aluminum melts and settles downward against the upward-flowing molten salt within the additional chamber, and the molten salt recirculates through a fourth chamber to the bottom of the first chamber for reheating.