METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPERSING ALUMINA IN A MOLTEN ELECTROLYTE CONTAINED IN AN ALUMINUM REDUCTION CELL

An apparatus for supplying and dispersing alumina into a molten electrolyte in an aluminum reduction cell is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: (a) an alumina feeder for charging a predetermined amount of alumina into a pre-selected area on a crust of solidified electrolyte; (b) a crust breaker being adapted to push the charged alumina into the molten electrolyte while breaki ng the crust; and (c) a gas supplying device for blowing a compressed gas benea th the surface of the molten electrolyte through a gas nozzle such that the blo wn compressed gas causes agitation in the molten electrolyte to accelerate dispersion and dissolution of the alumina into the molten electrolyte. The g as nozzle is provided in the crust breaker at the lowest point thereof.