Electrolytic cell with automatic cleaning function and electrolytic system

Abstract

The utility model discloses an electrolytic tank and electrolytic system with automatic cleaning function, an electrolytic tank with automatic cleaning function, including by the containing space of the electrolytic production of the groove body enclosure, still include: the collection mud area is located the bottom area of containing space, drive mechanism is set up in groove body, cleaning mechanism is located the collection mud area with drive mechanism transmission connection, drive mechanism includes the main shaft and the vane of main shaft connection, the main shaft with groove body rotation is connected, and the vane extends along the length direction of groove body, drive mechanism with the main shaft transmission connection of cleaning mechanism, be used for driving the movement of cleaning mechanism to the anode mud in the collection mud area from one end of electrolytic tank is concentrated to the other end. The electrolytic tank and electrolytic system with automatic cleaning function of the application can automatically clean the anode mud, and the operation efficiency of the electrolytic tank is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of electrolysis technology, and more specifically, to an electrolytic cell and electrolysis system with automatic cleaning function. Background Technology

[0002] In the electrolytic smelting process, the electrolytic cell is the core equipment for achieving metal electrolytic deposition, and its internal space provides the necessary environment for the electrolytic reaction. However, during the electrolytic production process, the anode continuously dissolves under electrochemical action, and the resulting anode sludge gradually deposits at the bottom of the electrolytic cell. This anode sludge often contains a certain amount of precious metals or other components with recycling value, but its cleaning and recycling has always been a challenge for the industry.

[0003] Traditional anode sludge removal methods typically require waiting until a specific cleaning cycle before proceeding. This method has several significant problems:

[0004] First, the cleaning and recycling cycle of anode mud is too long, especially for anode mud with a high content of precious metals. Long-term accumulation will lead to the inability to recover funds in a timely manner, increasing the company's capital turnover pressure and reducing the efficiency of resource utilization.

[0005] Secondly, the cleaning operation has a very low degree of automation, is labor-intensive, and seriously affects the continuity of electrolytic production. Traditional cleaning operations require first shutting down the power and stopping the cell, draining the electrolyte from the cell, and then having workers enter the cell to clean it manually. This process not only consumes a lot of manpower and time, prolongs the non-productive time of the electrolytic cell, and reduces the equipment's operating rate, but also creates a harsh working environment that poses a potential threat to the health of the operators.

[0006] Furthermore, the anode sludge accumulated at the bottom of the electrolytic cell is prone to floating due to the flow of electrolyte or other external forces. This floating anode sludge easily adheres to the surface of the metal plates produced by electrolysis, forming particulate impurities that severely affect the appearance quality of the metal products. At the same time, anode sludge usually contains a high proportion of impurities, which, once adhering to the metal plates, can cause the chemical composition of the metal plates to fail to meet quality standards, reducing the product's grade and market value.

[0007] Therefore, how to achieve efficient and automatic cleaning of anode mud in electrolytic cells, shorten the cleaning cycle, reduce labor intensity, and minimize the impact on production continuity and product quality has become a pressing technical problem to be solved in the current field of electrolytic smelting. Utility Model Content

[0008] This invention aims to solve the problems of long cycle, high labor intensity, and impact on production continuity and product quality in the existing electrolytic cell anode mud cleaning process, and provides an electrolytic cell with automatic cleaning function to achieve efficient centralized cleaning of anode mud, thereby improving the economy and stability of electrolytic production.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, in a first aspect, this utility model provides an electrolytic cell with an automatic cleaning function, comprising a accommodating space suitable for electrolytic production enclosed by the cell body, and further comprising:

[0010] The mud collection area is located at the bottom of the accommodating space;

[0011] A drive mechanism is disposed on the groove and located outside the accommodating space;

[0012] A cleaning mechanism is located in the mud collection area and is connected to the drive mechanism. The cleaning mechanism includes a main shaft and blades connected to the main shaft. The main shaft is rotatably connected to the tank body, and the blades extend along the length of the tank body.

[0013] The drive mechanism is connected to the main shaft of the cleaning mechanism and is used to drive the cleaning mechanism to move, thereby concentrating the anode mud in the mud collection area from one end of the electrolytic cell to the other end.

[0014] By adopting the above technical solution, the drive mechanism provides power to the cleaning mechanism, the main shaft drives the blades to move in the mud collection area, and the structure of the blades extending along the length of the tank can cover the main sedimentation area of ​​the mud collection area. By directional pushing, the anode mud is concentrated to one end of the electrolytic cell, realizing the automated centralized cleaning of the anode mud without relying on manual operation in the tank, fundamentally solving the problem of low efficiency of traditional cleaning methods.

[0015] Furthermore, the main shaft passes through the groove, and both ends of the main shaft are rotatably connected to the groove, with one end of the main shaft being drive-connected to the drive mechanism.

[0016] By adopting the above technical solution, the structure in which the main shaft runs through the tank and is rotatably connected at both ends can make the main shaft more evenly stressed, reduce wear or deformation caused by unilateral stress, improve the operational stability and service life of the cleaning mechanism, and at the same time ensure the full coverage pushing effect of the blades along the length of the tank.

[0017] Furthermore, the blade spirals around the main shaft and extends along the axis of the main shaft.

[0018] By adopting the above technical solution, the spiral blades will generate thrust along the axis of the main shaft when the main shaft rotates, which can continuously and evenly push the anode mud in the designated direction, avoiding the accumulation or backflow of the anode mud during the pushing process, and improving the efficiency and thoroughness of centralized cleaning.

[0019] Furthermore, one end of the main shaft is rotatably connected to the tank and driven by the drive mechanism, while the other end is fixedly connected to the blade, which extends spirally along the length of the electrolytic cell.

[0020] By adopting the above technical solution, the main shaft is a cantilever shaft, and the design of the single-sided drive mechanism of the main shaft simplifies the sealing structure of the tank, which can prevent the spiral shaft from getting stuck when there is too much anode mud, and can also reduce the risk of leakage caused by the main shaft penetrating through. The blades extend spirally along the length of the electrolytic cell, which can adapt to electrolytic cells of different lengths and ensure that the anode mud is pushed from one end of the tank to the other.

[0021] Furthermore, the length of the main shaft is greater than half the length of the electrolytic cell, but less than the length of the electrolytic cell.

[0022] By adopting the above technical solution, the length of the main shaft is designed to be between half and the full length of the electrolytic cell. This not only allows the blades to cover most of the sludge collection area and ensure the effective pushing of the anode sludge, but also avoids material waste and increased operating resistance caused by an excessively long main shaft, thus achieving a balance between cleaning efficiency and equipment cost.

[0023] Furthermore, the length of the main shaft is less than half the length of the electrolytic cell.

[0024] By adopting the above technical solutions, the shorter spindle length can reduce the overall weight and manufacturing cost of the equipment, making it particularly suitable for small electrolytic cells or scenarios requiring lightweight equipment. It also reduces energy consumption during spindle rotation, improving operational economy. Furthermore, it can reduce the risk of the auger shaft getting stuck due to excessive anode sludge.

[0025] Furthermore, the length of the main shaft is less than one-third of the length of the electrolytic cell, preferably less than one-quarter of the length of the electrolytic cell.

[0026] By adopting the above technical solutions, the shorter spindle design further optimizes the equipment structure, making it suitable for use in space-constrained electrolysis environments. It can also achieve segmented pushing of long tanks through the spiral extension of the blades, minimizing the space occupied by the equipment while ensuring the cleaning effect.

[0027] In some embodiments, the blades spirally surround the main shaft and extend spirally away from the main shaft.

[0028] By adopting the above technical solution, the structure in which the blade part spirals around the main shaft and extends away from the main shaft can not only ensure the reliability of the connection, but also expand the working range of the cleaning mechanism, covering the more peripheral areas of the mud collection area, avoiding the accumulation of anode mud in the corners of the tank, and improving the comprehensiveness of the cleaning.

[0029] Furthermore, one end of the electrolytic cell is provided with a sludge discharge port that communicates with the sludge collection area.

[0030] By adopting the above technical solution, the mud discharge port is directly connected to the mud collection area. When the anode mud is concentrated at this end, it can be discharged directly through the mud discharge port without draining the electrolyte. This achieves online cleaning without interrupting production and greatly shortens the time that cleaning operations affect production.

[0031] Secondly, this utility model also relates to an electrolysis system, including the electrolytic cell with automatic cleaning function described in the first aspect.

[0032] By adopting the above technical solutions, the electrolytic cell with integrated automatic cleaning function can realize continuous and automated cleaning of anode mud in large-scale production, improve the production efficiency and stability of the entire system, and reduce the system's operation and maintenance costs and reliance on manual labor.

[0033] In summary, this application has at least one of the following beneficial technical effects:

[0034] 1. Enables automated cleaning of anode mud, eliminating the need for manual tank entry, reducing labor intensity, and improving the working environment.

[0035] 2. Shorten the anode mud cleaning cycle, avoid the accumulation of precious metals, accelerate capital turnover, and improve resource utilization efficiency.

[0036] 3. No need to shut down the power, stop the cell, or drain the electrolyte, reducing the impact on production continuity and improving the operating rate of the electrolytic cell.

[0037] 4. Reduce surface defects and excessive chemical content in metal plates caused by anode mud floating, thereby improving product quality.

[0038] 5. The structure is flexible and can be adapted to electrolytic cells of different specifications. It is also easy to integrate into existing electrolysis systems and has a wide range of applications. Attached Figure Description

[0039] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0040] Figure 1 This is a front view of the first embodiment of the electrolytic cell with automatic cleaning function according to this application;

[0041] Figure 2 This is a top view of the first embodiment of the electrolytic cell with automatic cleaning function according to this application;

[0042] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the electrolytic cell with automatic cleaning function according to this application;

[0043] Figure 4 This is a top view of the second embodiment of the electrolytic cell with automatic cleaning function according to this application;

[0044] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Enlarged diagram of area A in the middle;

[0045] Figure 6 This is a front view of the third embodiment of the electrolytic cell with automatic cleaning function according to this application;

[0046] Figure 7 This is a top view of the third embodiment of the electrolytic cell with automatic cleaning function according to this application;

[0047] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the third embodiment of the electrolytic cell with automatic cleaning function in this application.

[0048] Figure label:

[0049] 1. Tank body; 11. Containment space; 111. Sludge collection area; 12. Sludge discharge port; 2. Drive mechanism; 3. Cleaning mechanism; 31. Blade; 32. Main shaft; 4. Anode sludge; 5. Collection hopper. Detailed Implementation

[0050] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0051] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0052] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0053] The technical solutions of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, the features in the following embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0054] Example 1

[0055] Please see Figures 1-3 This embodiment provides an electrolytic cell with an automatic cleaning function, including a containment space 11 suitable for electrolytic production enclosed by a tank body 1, a drive mechanism 2, and a cleaning mechanism 3. The bottom area of ​​the containment space 11 is a sludge collection area 111. The drive mechanism 2 is disposed on the tank body 1 and located outside the containment space 11. The cleaning mechanism 3 is located in the sludge collection area 111 and is connected to the drive mechanism 2. The drive mechanism 2 includes a main shaft 32 and blades 31 connected to the main shaft 32. The main shaft 32 is rotatably connected to the tank body 1, and the blades 31 extend along the length of the tank body 1.

[0056] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 The drive mechanism 2 is connected to the main shaft 32 of the cleaning mechanism 3 and is used to drive the cleaning mechanism 3 to move, thereby collecting the anode mud 4 in the mud collection area 111 from one end of the electrolytic cell to the other end. The drive mechanism 2 can be manually driven, motor-driven, or magnetically driven. Magnetic drive avoids damage to the motor equipment caused by the cleaning mechanism 3 getting stuck.

[0057] The drive mechanism 2 is installed on the outer side of one end of the tank 1, serving as the power source for the cleaning action. Different drive methods can be selected according to actual needs. If a conventional motor drive is used, the motor output shaft is connected to the main shaft 32 of the cleaning mechanism 3 via a flexible coupling. The motor is also equipped with a protective shell to effectively isolate electrolyte vapor and splashed liquid, ensuring safe motor operation. If a magnetic drive method is used, a drive magnet connected to the motor is installed outside the tank 1, while a driven magnet is installed at the end of the main shaft 32, transmitting power through magnetic field coupling. This magnetic drive method eliminates the need for the main shaft 32 to penetrate the tank 1, fundamentally eliminating the risk of electrolyte leakage. Moreover, when the blade 31 is stuck by foreign objects, the magnetic coupling will cause slippage, preventing motor damage due to overload and significantly improving the safety of equipment operation.

[0058] The main shaft 32 passes through the groove 1, and both ends of the main shaft 32 are rotatably connected to the groove 1. One end of the main shaft 32 is connected to the drive mechanism 2. The blade 31 spirally surrounds the main shaft 32 and extends along the axis of the main shaft 32.

[0059] Please see Figure 3 The tank 1 is integrally cast from vinyl ester resin and quartz sand, making it resistant to electrolyte corrosion. It has a rectangular structure, and the enclosed space 11 is the core area for electrolytic production, used to contain the electrolyte and carry out the electrolytic reaction. The bottom area of ​​the space 11 is designated as a sludge collection area 111, specifically for collecting the anode sludge 4 generated during electrolysis. To aid in the accumulation of the anode sludge 4, the bottom surface of the sludge collection area 111 is designed to be inclined, allowing the anode sludge 4 to slide naturally to the lower side under gravity, thereby reducing the pushing resistance of the subsequent cleaning mechanism 3 and improving cleaning efficiency.

[0060] Structure and working principle of cleaning mechanism 3: Cleaning mechanism 3 is located in the sludge collection area 111 and consists of two parts: main shaft 32 and blades 31. The main shaft 32 is rotatably connected to the side wall of the tank 1 through bearings. Corrosion-resistant seals are installed between the bearing housing and the tank 1 to effectively prevent electrolyte from seeping into the bearing and thus avoid affecting the bearing's service life. Blades 31 are spirally wrapped around the surface of the main shaft 32 and are made of a suitable material. Their edges maintain an appropriate gap with the bottom surface of the sludge collection area 111. This gap ensures that blades 31 can fully contact and push the anode sludge 4 while preventing friction and wear between blades 31 and the tank 1.

[0061] When the drive mechanism 2 is working, it drives the main shaft 32 to rotate at a constant speed. The spiral blades 31 rotate together with the main shaft 32, generating an axial thrust along the length of the tank 1 during rotation. This thrust continuously and stably pushes the anode mud 4 deposited in the mud collection area 111 from the high side to the low side of the electrolytic cell, achieving concentrated aggregation of the anode mud 4. This spiral pushing structure prevents the anode mud 4 from scattering during movement, ensuring the stability of the aggregation effect.

[0062] Example 2

[0063] Please see Figure 4 and Figure 5 The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that the main shaft 32 is a cantilever shaft. One end of the main shaft 32 is rotatably connected to the tank body 1 and driven by the drive mechanism 2, while the other end is fixedly connected to the blade 31, which extends spirally along the length of the electrolytic cell. This single-sided support design simplifies the sealing structure of the tank body 1 and reduces potential leakage points, making it more suitable for electrolytic environments with high sealing requirements. It can also prevent the spiral shaft from getting stuck when there is too much anode mud 4.

[0064] The blade 31 and the main shaft 32 are manufactured using an integral forging process, and are made of a material with excellent wear resistance to cope with frictional loss during the pushing of anode mud 4. The blade 31 extends spirally along the length of the electrolytic cell, with its pitch gradually changing from the root of the main shaft 32 to the end, while the width of the blade 31 gradually increases in the direction away from the main shaft 32. This design enables the blade 31 to generate a gradually increasing pushing force during rotation, ensuring that the anode mud 4 does not accumulate or stagnate during long-distance pushing. The end of the blade 31 maintains a small gap with the bottom wall of the mud collection area 111, which effectively prevents anode mud 4 from remaining in the corners.

[0065] The length of the main shaft 32 can be flexibly adjusted according to the specifications of the electrolytic cell and the application scenario. When the length of the main shaft 32 is designed to be greater than half the length of the electrolytic cell but less than the total length, it can ensure that the pushing range of the blades 31 covers most of the sludge collection area 111, while avoiding material waste and vibration problems caused by an excessively long main shaft 32, achieving a good balance between cleaning efficiency and equipment cost. If the length of the main shaft 32 is less than half or even less than one-third of the length of the electrolytic cell, it is more suitable for small electrolytic cells or space-constrained scenarios. For shorter main shafts 32, an auxiliary guide frame can be set in the middle of the tank body 1 to prevent the blades 31 from deflecting due to excessive cantilever length; the blades 31 can also adopt a segmented design, with each segment corresponding to a different pitch, to flexibly adapt to different workshop layouts. The blades 31 spirally surround the main shaft 32 and extend spirally away from the main shaft 32.

[0066] Example 3

[0067] Please see Figures 6-8 The difference between this embodiment and the above embodiment is that a special sludge discharge structure is added. In this embodiment, a sludge discharge port 12 connected to the sludge collection area 111 is provided at one end of the electrolytic cell, making the recycling of anode sludge 4 more convenient and efficient.

[0068] A sludge discharge port 12 is provided at the bottom of the sludge collection area 111 at the concentrated end of the anode sludge 4 in the electrolytic cell. The sludge discharge port 12 is directly connected to the sludge collection area 111, and a corrosion-resistant valve is installed at the interface. The valve can be controlled manually or pneumatically. A collection device is connected below the sludge discharge port 12. In this embodiment, it is a conical collection hopper 5. This conical structure facilitates the collection and temporary storage of the anode sludge 4. The bottom of the collection hopper 5 is equipped with a sludge discharge valve, which can be directly connected to subsequent recycling equipment to realize the continuous transfer of the anode sludge 4.

[0069] When the anode mud 4 accumulates to a certain thickness at the concentrated end of the mud collection area 111, the operator can open the valve of the mud discharge port 12. Under the combined action of the pushing force of the blades 31 and its own gravity, the anode mud 4 enters the collection hopper 5 through the mud discharge port 12. The entire mud discharge process does not require emptying the electrolyte, does not interrupt electrolytic production, and significantly shortens the time that cleaning operations affect production.

[0070] To facilitate real-time monitoring of the anode mud 4 accumulation, a mud layer thickness monitoring device can be installed at the centralized end of the mud collection area 111. This device can monitor the accumulation height of the anode mud 4 in real time and promptly remind operators to discharge mud through the control system, so as to avoid affecting the pushing effect due to excessive accumulation of anode mud 4 and ensure that the cleaning work is carried out in an orderly manner.

[0071] Example 4

[0072] This embodiment discloses an electrolysis system, the core component of which is any of the above-mentioned electrolytic cells with automatic cleaning functions. Integrating an electrolytic cell with automatic cleaning function into the entire electrolysis system enables a comprehensive optimization and upgrade of the entire electrolysis process.

[0073] When using the electrolytic cell in Example 3, a recycling device consisting of a screw conveyor, a filter press, and a precious metal purification device can also be set up. The screw conveyor is connected to the outlet of the collection hopper 5 of each electrolytic cell, and the collected anode mud 4 can be transported to the filter press for dewatering treatment. Then, the useful components are extracted by the precious metal purification device, so as to achieve efficient recycling of the anode mud 4.

[0074] In actual operation, this electrolysis system has significant advantages over traditional electrolysis systems: the average daily production capacity of a single cell is significantly increased due to reduced downtime for cleaning; the cleaning efficiency of anode mud is greatly improved, and the product qualification rate is also significantly improved due to reduced contamination of metal products by anode mud. This integrated and intelligent design makes the entire electrolysis system operate more orderly, and both production efficiency and resource utilization are greatly improved.

[0075] This article uses specific examples to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this utility model. The descriptions of the above embodiments are only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of this utility model. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made to this utility model without departing from the principles of this utility model, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the protection scope of the claims of this utility model.

Claims

1. An electrolytic cell with an automatic cleaning function, comprising a containment space enclosed by a cell body suitable for electrolytic production, characterized in that, Also includes: The mud collection area is located at the bottom of the accommodating space; A drive mechanism is disposed on the groove and located outside the accommodating space; A cleaning mechanism is located in the mud collection area and is connected to the driving mechanism. The driving mechanism includes a main shaft and blades connected to the main shaft. The main shaft is rotatably connected to the tank body, and the blades extend along the length of the tank body. The drive mechanism is connected to the main shaft of the cleaning mechanism and is used to drive the cleaning mechanism to move, thereby concentrating the anode mud in the mud collection area from one end of the electrolytic cell to the other end.

2. The electrolytic cell with automatic cleaning function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main shaft passes through the groove and its two ends are rotatably connected to the groove. One end of the main shaft is connected to the drive mechanism.

3. The electrolytic cell with automatic cleaning function according to claim 2, characterized in that, The blades spiral around the main shaft and extend along the axis of the main shaft.

4. The electrolytic cell with automatic cleaning function according to claim 1, characterized in that, One end of the main shaft is rotatably connected to the tank and is driven by the drive mechanism, while the other end is fixedly connected to the blades, which extend spirally along the length of the electrolytic cell.

5. The electrolytic cell with automatic cleaning function according to claim 4, characterized in that, The length of the main shaft is greater than half the length of the electrolytic cell, but less than the length of the electrolytic cell.

6. The electrolytic cell with automatic cleaning function according to claim 4, characterized in that, The length of the main shaft is less than half the length of the electrolytic cell.

7. The electrolytic cell with automatic cleaning function according to claim 6, characterized in that, The length of the main shaft is less than one-third of the length of the electrolytic cell.

8. The electrolytic cell with automatic cleaning function according to any one of claims 4-6, characterized in that, The blade spirals around the main shaft and extends spirally away from the main shaft.

9. The electrolytic cell with automatic cleaning function according to claim 1, characterized in that, One end of the electrolytic cell is provided with a sludge discharge port that communicates with the sludge collection area.

10. An electrolysis system, characterized in that, Including the electrolytic cell with automatic cleaning function as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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