Apparatus for use in electrorefining and electrowinning
a technology for electrowinning and apparatus, applied in the direction of electrical-based machining apparatus, electro-electrodes, cells, etc., can solve the problems of short circuit between plates, affecting the efficiency and speed of the electro-production process, and the spread of current density in cells
Inactive Publication Date: 2015-07-09
OUTOTEC OYJ
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AI Technical Summary
Benefits of technology
The invention allows for the voltage supplied to cells to be controlled without being influenced by safety concerns. By using controlled local conversion, the power supply can have any appropriate voltage, and the risk of electric shock and dangerous fault conditions is reduced. This is achieved by ensuring that no electrode is more than one cell voltage above ground potential, which also minimizes leakage current to ground through spilt electrolyte. This results in a safer and more efficient operation of the tanks.
Problems solved by technology
This results in a spread of current density in the cells due to differences in the resistance of the cells.
The efficiency and speed of the electro-production process can be adversely affected if the current density in the cell is not held within certain limits.
Additionally a poorly controlled current density can encourage the growth of metal spikes on the plates which can lead to short circuits between the plates.
The voltage that is ideal for one cell may not be ideal for other cells.
Since losses in a conductor are proportional to the square of the current this process is wasteful of energy.
The voltage applied to each cell can be poorly regulated, particularly when supplied through long, high-current bus bars which are loaded with cells the condition of which is variable.
Contact resistance between the plates and the bus bars can vary substantially resulting in poor control of current through the plates and current density on the plates
The steel plates can deteriorate with time and use and therefore experience changes in their internal resistance giving rise to poor control of current through the plates and poor current density control on the plates.
Method used
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Embodiment Construction
[0085]Referring to FIG. 3, the illustration shows a tank arrangement that is common in prior art electrowinning and electrorefining plants. Multiple cathodes 1 are connected in parallel and multiple anodes 2 are connected in parallel to increase the total cathode surface area. There are twice as many IEGs as cathodes.
[0086]FIG. 4 shows a prior art system having a multiplicity of tanks 5 connected in series. An interconnector 6 connects the tanks and is in practice not a single cable but multiple connections are made via equaliser bars which ensure connection is made between tanks at multiple points.
[0087]Any arrangement which feeds a certain voltage to the cathode (with respect to its adjacent anodes) or current to the cathode will have difficulty maintaining equal current density on each side of the cathode. Anodes are typically spaced a fixed distance apart (typically 10 cm). Efforts have been made over the years to maintain cathode plates in a flat condition and to locate them ac...
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Abstract
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 13 / 814,521 filed on Feb. 6, 2013, which is a national stage application of PCT / GB2011 / 51478 filed on Aug. 4, 2011, designating the U.S., and which claims priority to UK Application No. 1013429.4 filed on Aug. 11, 2010, and UK Application No. 1105704.9 filed on Apr. 4, 2011, the contents of all of which are incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to an apparatus for the electro-production of metals.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]In electrorefining (ER) and electrowinning (EW) electrodes are immersed in an electrolyte and an electric current is passed between them. The anode is made positive and the cathode made negative so that an electric current passes through the electrolyte from anode to cathode.[0004]In electrorefining (ER), the metal anode is soluble. That is to say that the metal enters into the electrolyte under ...
Claims
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IPC IPC(8): C25C7/06
CPCC25C7/06C25C7/02C25C3/16C25C7/00C25D17/00C25D17/005C25D17/007
Inventor GRANT, DUNCAN
Owner OUTOTEC OYJ