That's a process that involves drawing ions through solution towards a cathode and anode. A direct beam won't do.
A solar furnace would suffice for the first half of the smelting process if you have access to ore which is not pure alumina, as well as melting the cryolite flux. Actually separating out the aluminum from alumina requires PV panels, high temperature rods and some means of synthesizing the cryolite or similar solvent / flux.
> That's a process that involves drawing ions through solution towards a cathode and anode. A direct beam won't do.
OK, thanks for the info. Can you go into more depth about this specific part, or is this a thing where I need to do the whole degree to understand the answer?
That's a process that involves drawing ions through solution towards a cathode and anode. A direct beam won't do.
A solar furnace would suffice for the first half of the smelting process if you have access to ore which is not pure alumina, as well as melting the cryolite flux. Actually separating out the aluminum from alumina requires PV panels, high temperature rods and some means of synthesizing the cryolite or similar solvent / flux.