Electrolytic cell arrangement for copper electrolysis

Abstract

This disclosure relates to the technical field of electrolytic cells. One embodiment of this disclosure provides an electrolytic cell device for copper electrolysis, comprising: an electrolytic cell body and a pair of overflow channels, the pair of overflow channels being disposed on the upper ends of both sides of the electrolytic cell body; an inlet / outlet flow assembly disposed inside the electrolytic cell body; blocking blocks evenly distributed at both ends of the top of the electrolytic cell body; and a pressing assembly disposed on both sides of the electrolytic cell body. The inlet / outlet flow assembly includes a pair of rotating frames, both of which are rotatably connected to both ends of the top of the electrolytic cell body. An inner plate is placed at the bottom inside the electrolytic cell body, with elongated grooves formed at both ends of the inner plate surface and transverse cavities formed at both ends of the inner plate, each transverse cavity communicating with the pair of elongated grooves. This technical solution solves the technical problems commonly found in existing copper electrolytic cells, such as the presence of numerous impurities that are difficult to clean and the inability to effectively fix the insulating plate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments disclosed herein relate to the technical field of electrolytic cells, and more specifically, to an electrolytic cell apparatus for copper electrolysis. Background Technology

[0002] In the copper smelting industry, electrolytic refining is a crucial process for improving copper purity. By placing crude copper anode plates within an electrolytic cell, copper ions migrate and deposit under the action of the electrolyte, ultimately yielding cathode copper with a purity of over 99.95%. As the core reaction vessel, the structure of the electrolytic cell directly impacts electrolysis efficiency, product quality, and production safety. However, traditional copper electrolytic cells generally suffer from significant drawbacks, such as numerous impurities that are difficult to clean and the inability to effectively secure the insulating plates, severely restricting production stability and the purity of copper products.

[0003] Traditional electrolytic cells are mostly open-top concrete or plastic tanks. During the electrolysis process, the dissolution of crude copper anodes produces anode sludge (containing precious metal impurities such as silver and gold). At the same time, copper sulfate crystals easily precipitate in the electrolyte. These impurities accumulate on the bottom and walls of the tank for a long time, requiring manual cleaning after the machine is shut down. This not only interrupts the production process but also poses safety hazards to operators due to the highly corrosive nature of the electrolyte. If cleaning is not timely, impurities will adhere to the surface of the cathode copper, leading to a decrease in product purity and increasing subsequent purification costs.

[0004] Therefore, developing copper electrolytic cell devices that facilitate impurity removal and can fix insulating plates has become an urgent need for the industry to improve production efficiency and product quality. Utility Model Content

[0005] To overcome the above-mentioned defects, the embodiments of this disclosure provide an electrolytic cell device for copper electrolysis, which solves the technical problems that traditional copper electrolytic cells in the prior art generally have many impurities that are inconvenient to clean and cannot effectively fix the insulating plate.

[0006] According to one aspect, at least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides an electrolytic cell apparatus for copper electrolysis, comprising: An electrolytic cell body and a pair of overflow channels, wherein the pair of overflow channels are disposed on the upper ends of both sides of the electrolytic cell body; An inlet / outlet flow assembly is disposed inside the main body of the electrolytic cell; Several blocking blocks and a clamping assembly are provided. The blocking blocks are evenly distributed at both ends of the top of the electrolytic cell body, and the clamping assembly is provided on both sides of the electrolytic cell body. The inlet and outlet flow assembly includes a pair of rotating frames, both of which are rotatably connected to the top two ends of the electrolytic cell body. An inner plate is placed at the bottom inside the electrolytic cell body. Long grooves are opened at both ends of the surface of the inner plate, and transverse cavities are opened at both ends of the inner plate. The transverse cavities are connected to the pair of long grooves.

[0007] As a further technical solution, connecting pipes are provided at both ends of the inner plate surface, the upper end of the connecting pipes extends to the outside of the electrolytic cell body, and a pair of rotating frames are fitted on both sides of the connecting pipes, and the rotating frames are fixedly connected by bolts.

[0008] According to another aspect, in at least one embodiment of the present invention, the clamping assembly includes a pair of fixing blocks, both of which are disposed on both sides of the electrolytic cell body, each fixing block has a base frame at its bottom, and a rectangular opening is formed on the surface of the fixing block.

[0009] As a further technical solution, a stud is vertically rotatably connected inside the base frame, the upper end of the stud is located inside the rectangular opening, and a movable column is vertically movably connected inside the rectangular opening, the movable column and the stud being connected by a threaded engagement.

[0010] As a further technical solution, a clamping frame is rotatably connected to the upper end of a pair of movable columns on the same side via a pin. The clamping frame has an L-shaped cross-section, and the top of the clamping frame is located directly above the blocking block.

[0011] As a further technical solution, a sealing layer is provided around the inner surface of the electrolytic cell body, and the sealing layer is sealed and fitted around the inner plate side surface.

[0012] As a further technical solution, a pair of lifting rings are provided at both ends of the inner plate surface.

[0013] As a further technical solution, the lower end of the stud is provided with a screw handle, and the screw handle has a polygonal structure.

[0014] The beneficial effects of the embodiments disclosed herein are as follows: In this disclosure, the inlet and outlet circulation components solve the problems of difficult impurity removal and uneven electrolyte distribution in traditional electrolytic cells through convenient cleaning and circulation design. The inner plate can be quickly removed for cleaning, preventing impurity accumulation from affecting electrolysis efficiency; the long tank and horizontal cavity work together to ensure that the electrolyte evenly covers the electrolysis area, improving the uniformity of copper deposition; the connecting pipe realizes electrolyte circulation replenishment and waste liquid discharge, ensuring stable concentration. The sealing layer prevents electrolyte leakage, and the lifting ring facilitates the loading and unloading of the inner plate without requiring manual entry into the tank for cleaning, reducing safety risks. This structure shortens downtime for maintenance, improves electrolysis continuity, reduces the impact of impurities on the purity of cathode copper, and provides a clean and stable reaction environment for efficient copper electrolysis. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments of this disclosure will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the content of the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure and these drawings without any creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a structure in one embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 2 This is an isometric drawing of the present disclosure; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the present disclosure; Figure 4 This is another sectional view of the present disclosure; In the diagram: 1. Electrolytic cell body; 2. Overflow tank; 3. Blocking block; 4. Inlet / outlet flow assembly; 4-1. Rotating frame; 4-2. Inner plate; 4-3. Long groove; 4-4. Horizontal cavity; 4-5. Connecting pipe; 5. Pressing assembly; 5-1. Fixing block; 5-2. Base frame; 5-3. Rectangular opening; 5-4. Stud; 5-5. Movable column; 5-6. Pressing frame; 6. Sealing layer; 7. Lifting ring; 8. Tightening handle. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The present disclosure will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

[0018] To keep the drawings concise, each drawing only schematically shows the parts relevant to the disclosure; these do not represent the actual structure of the product. Furthermore, for ease of understanding, in some drawings, only one of components with the same structure or function is schematically shown, or only one is labeled. In this document, "one" not only means "only one," but can also mean "more than one," and "several" includes "two" and "more than two."

[0019] In this document, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linkage" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections 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 disclosure based on the specific circumstances.

[0020] In this disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0021] In the description of this embodiment, terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of description and simplification of operation, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this disclosure.

[0022] Furthermore, in the description of this application, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0023] like Figures 1-4 As shown, it illustrates an electrolytic cell apparatus for copper electrolysis according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, comprising: An electrolytic cell body 1 and a pair of overflow tanks 2, wherein the pair of overflow tanks 2 are disposed on the upper ends of both sides of the electrolytic cell body 1; Inlet / outlet flow assembly 4 is disposed inside the electrolytic cell body 1; A plurality of blocking blocks 3 and a pressing assembly 5, wherein the blocking blocks 3 are evenly distributed at both ends of the top of the electrolytic cell body 1, and the pressing assembly 5 is disposed on both sides of the electrolytic cell body 1; The inlet / outlet flow assembly 4 includes a pair of rotating frames 4-1, both of which are rotatably connected to the top ends of the electrolytic cell body 1. An inner plate 4-2 is placed at the bottom inside the electrolytic cell body 1. Long grooves 4-3 are formed at both ends of the surface of the inner plate 4-2. Horizontal cavities 4-4 are formed at both ends of the inner plate 4-2. The horizontal cavities 4-4 are connected to the pair of long grooves 4-3. Connecting pipes 4-5 are provided at both ends of the surface of the inner plate 4-2. The upper ends of the connecting pipes 4-5 extend to the outside of the electrolytic cell body 1. The pair of rotating frames 4-1 are fitted on both sides of the connecting pipes 4-5 and are fixedly connected by bolts.

[0024] In some examples, to achieve precise replenishment of electrolyte and discharge of waste liquid during copper electrolysis, and to facilitate the removal and cleaning of the inner plate 4-2, avoiding the accumulation of electrolytic residue that affects electrolysis efficiency or contaminates the electrolyte, an inlet / outlet flow assembly 4 is designed. This assembly includes a pair of rotating frames 4-1 rotatably connected at both ends of the top of the electrolytic cell body 1. These frames can rotate horizontally around the connection point and are fitted onto both sides of the connecting pipe 4-5 and fixed with bolts. This provides a ring-like fixation for the connecting pipe 4-5, preventing it from shaking or shifting during electrolyte transport. It also allows for quick disassembly by flipping the rotating frames 4-1, freeing up operating space for the removal and cleaning of the inner plate 4-2. During disassembly, loosening the bolts and flipping the rotating frames 4-1 releases the fixation on the connecting pipe 4-5, preventing the connecting pipe 4-5 from obstructing the removal of the inner plate 4-2.

[0025] The inner plate 4-2, placed at the bottom of the main body 1 of the electrolytic cell, serves as the core component for electrolyte flow and residue collection. The long grooves 4-3 at both ends of its surface are distributed along the length of the inner plate 4-2, providing a transverse flow channel for the electrolyte. This ensures that the electrolyte can uniformly cover the electrolysis area and avoids differences in electrolysis efficiency caused by uneven local electrolyte concentration. The transverse cavities 4-4 at both ends of the inner plate 4-2 are connected to the long grooves 4-3, forming an electrolyte collection area. The connecting pipes 4-5 at both ends of the surface of the inner plate 4-2 are connected to the transverse cavities 4-4, and their upper ends extend to the outside of the main body 1 of the electrolytic cell. One of the connecting pipes 4-5 can be connected to an external electrolyte supply device to replenish new electrolyte, and the other can be connected to a drain device to discharge waste liquid, realizing the circulation of electrolyte and ensuring the stability of electrolyte concentration during the electrolysis process.

[0026] During operation, fresh electrolyte flows into the electrolytic cell through connecting pipe 4-5, transverse cavity 4-4, and long tank 4-3, while waste liquid is discharged in the opposite direction along the same path. When electrolytic residue accumulates on the surface of inner plate 4-2, loosening the bolts of rotating frame 4-1 and flipping rotating frame 4-1 allows inner plate 4-2 to be removed from the main body 1 of the electrolytic cell for cleaning. The flow structure ensures uniform electrolyte circulation, and the detachable design facilitates maintenance of inner plate 4-2. The coordinated operation of all components enables electrolyte replenishment and discharge, as well as cleaning of inner plate 4-2, providing a stable and clean environment for copper electrolysis operations.

[0027] like Figures 1-4As shown in the figure, the clamping assembly 5 in this embodiment includes a pair of fixing blocks 5-1. The pair of fixing blocks 5-1 are both disposed on both sides of the electrolytic cell body 1. The bottom of each fixing block 5-1 is provided with a base frame 5-2. A rectangular opening 5-3 is opened on the surface of the fixing block 5-1. A stud 5-4 is vertically rotatably connected inside the base frame 5-2. The upper end of the stud 5-4 is located inside the rectangular opening 5-3. A movable column 5-5 is vertically movably connected inside the rectangular opening 5-3. The movable column 5-5 and the stud 5-4 are connected by a threaded connection. The upper ends of the pair of movable columns 5-5 located on the same side are rotatably connected to a clamping frame 5-6 by a pin. The clamping frame 5-6 has an L-shaped cross-section. The top of the clamping frame 5-6 is located directly above the blocking block 3.

[0028] In some examples, to achieve stable clamping of the insulating plates at both ends of the top of the electrolytic cell body 1, prevent the insulating plates from shifting due to electrolyte impact or electrode vibration during electrolysis, ensure that the insulating plates can effectively isolate the electrodes from the cell body, avoid the risk of leakage, and adapt to the clamping requirements of insulating plates of different thicknesses, a clamping assembly 5 is designed. This assembly includes a pair of fixing blocks 5-1 set on both sides of the electrolytic cell body 1 to provide installation support for the clamping structure. The base frame 5-2 at its bottom enhances the connection stability between the fixing blocks 5-1 and the cell body, preventing the fixing blocks 5-1 from tilting under force during clamping. The rectangular opening 5-3 on the surface of the fixing blocks 5-1 provides a vertical guide channel for the movable column 5-5, ensuring that the movable column 5-5 can only move in the vertical direction, avoiding uneven clamping force caused by the displacement of the movable column 5-5.

[0029] The stud 5-4, which is vertically rotatable inside the base frame 5-2, has its upper end located inside the rectangular opening 5-3 and is connected to the movable column 5-5 by a threaded engagement. When the stud 5-4 rotates, it can drive the movable column 5-5 to rise and fall vertically along the rectangular opening 5-3. Through the self-locking characteristic of the threaded transmission, it is ensured that the movable column 5-5 can stably stay in the target position after rising and falling, and will not move on its own due to external force. On the same side, the upper ends of a pair of movable columns 5-5 are rotatably connected to the pressure frame 5-6 by a pin. The cross-section is L-shaped. Its horizontal section is located directly above the blocking block 3, and its vertical section is connected to the movable column 5-5. This structure allows the pressure frame 5-6 to apply vertical pressure from above the insulating plate. Together with the blocking block 3 to limit the lateral movement of the insulating plate, it forms a double fixation of "upper and lower pressure - lateral limit", which prevents the insulating plate from vertically loosening or laterally shifting.

[0030] During operation, rotate stud 5-4 according to the thickness of the insulating board, which drives the movable column 5-5 to raise or lower the height of the clamping frame 5-6, ensuring that the horizontal section of the clamping frame 5-6 is tightly fitted against the top of the insulating board. During electrolysis, the clamping frame 5-6 continuously applies pressure to fix the insulating board. When replacing the insulating board, simply rotate stud 5-4 in the opposite direction to raise the clamping frame 5-6. The threaded adjustment adapts to different thicknesses, the L-shaped frame ensures stable clamping, and the coordinated operation of all components reliably clamps the insulating board, providing a safe and stable insulating environment for copper electrolysis operations.

[0031] For example, such as Figure 3 As shown, a sealing layer 6 is provided around the inner surface of the electrolytic cell body 1, and the sealing layer 6 is sealed and adhered to the inner plate 4-2 side surface around the circumference.

[0032] In some examples, a sealing layer 6 is provided around the inner surface of the electrolytic cell body 1, sealingly fitting against the inner plate 4-2 around its side surface. This design prevents electrolyte from seeping out from the gap between the electrolytic cell body 1 and the inner plate 4-2, avoiding resource waste or equipment corrosion caused by electrolyte leakage. The sealing layer 6 is made of an elastic material resistant to electrolyte corrosion (such as fluororubber or EPDM rubber), and its elasticity can accommodate slight positional deviations during the installation of the inner plate 4-2, ensuring a tight, gapless fit.

[0033] For example, such as Figure 2 As shown, a pair of lifting rings 7 are provided at both ends of the surface of the inner plate 4-2.

[0034] In some examples, a pair of lifting rings 7 are provided at both ends of the inner plate 4-2 surface, providing convenient force points for the removal and cleaning of the inner plate 4-2. When it is necessary to clean the electrolytic residue on the surface of the inner plate 4-2, the operator can use lifting equipment (such as a small crane or manual hoist) to hook the lifting rings 7 and easily lift the inner plate 4-2 from the electrolytic cell body 1 without manual handling, which reduces labor intensity and avoids collision damage during handling due to the weight of the inner plate 4-2. The lifting rings 7 are symmetrically distributed at both ends of the inner plate, which ensures that the inner plate 4-2 is evenly stressed during lifting, keeps it in a horizontal state, and prevents the inner plate 4-2 from tilting and causing electrolyte residue to spill or the inner plate 4-2 to collide with the electrolytic cell body 1, significantly improving the safety and efficiency of maintenance operations for the inlet and outlet of the flow component 4.

[0035] For example, such as Figure 1 As shown, the lower end of the stud 5-4 is provided with a screw handle 8, which has a polygonal structure.

[0036] In some examples, the screw handle 8 at the lower end of the stud 5-4 is a polygonal structure (such as hexagonal or octagonal). This structure makes it easier for operators to quickly turn the stud 5-4 using tools such as wrenches. Compared with a round handle, the polygonal structure can prevent tools from slipping, improve the efficiency of force transmission, and make it easier to adjust the stud 5-4.

[0037] In actual use: Place the inner plate 4-2 into the bottom of the electrolytic cell body 1, ensuring that the side surface of the inner plate 4-2 is tightly fitted with the sealing layer 6 inside the electrolytic cell body 1. Connect the inner plate 4-2 to the external liquid supply and drainage equipment through the connecting pipe 4-5 on its surface. Place the insulating plate between the blocking blocks 3 at both ends of the top of the electrolytic cell body 1. Rotate the screw handle 8 of the clamping assembly 5 to rotate the stud 5-4, causing the movable column 5-5 to rise vertically along the rectangular opening 5-3. The L-shaped clamping frame 5-6 then descends and fits against the top of the insulating plate, completing the fixing of the insulating plate. Start the electrolysis system. The electrolyte flows evenly into the electrolytic cell body 1 through the connecting pipe 4-5, the transverse cavity 4-4, and the long tank 4-3. Excess electrolyte is discharged from the overflow tanks 2 on both sides. After electrolysis, the liquid supply equipment is turned off, the waste liquid is discharged through the connecting pipe 4-5, the bolts of the rotating frame 4-1 are loosened and the rotating frame 4-1 is flipped, and the inner plate 4-2 is taken out from the main body 1 of the electrolytic cell with the help of the lifting ring 7. After cleaning the residual impurities on the surface, it is put back. The entire process realizes the circulation of electrolyte and convenient cleaning of impurities, while ensuring the stable fixation of the insulating plate.

[0038] It should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this disclosure and are not intended to limit it. Although this disclosure has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of this disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of this disclosure, and all such modifications and substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of this disclosure.

Claims

1. An electrolytic cell arrangement for copper electrolysis, characterized in that include: An electrolytic cell body (1) and a pair of overflow tanks (2), wherein the pair of overflow tanks (2) are disposed on the upper ends of both sides of the electrolytic cell body (1); Inlet / outlet flow assembly (4), which is disposed inside the electrolytic cell body (1); A number of blocking blocks (3) and a pressing assembly (5) are provided. The blocking blocks (3) are evenly distributed at both ends of the top of the electrolytic cell body (1), and the pressing assembly (5) is provided on both sides of the electrolytic cell body (1). The inlet and outlet flow assembly (4) includes a pair of rotating frames (4-1), both of which are rotatably connected to the top two ends of the electrolytic cell body (1). An inner plate (4-2) is placed at the bottom inside the electrolytic cell body (1). Long grooves (4-3) are opened at both ends of the surface of the inner plate (4-2). Horizontal cavities (4-4) are opened at both ends of the inner plate (4-2). The horizontal cavities (4-4) are connected to the pair of long grooves (4-3).

2. A cell apparatus for copper electrolysis according to claim 1, characterised in that, The inner plate (4-2) has connecting pipes (4-5) at both ends. The upper end of the connecting pipe (4-5) extends to the outside of the electrolytic cell body (1). A pair of rotating frames (4-1) are fitted on both sides of the connecting pipe (4-5). The rotating frames (4-1) are fixedly connected to each other by bolts.

3. A cell apparatus for copper electrolysis according to claim 1, characterised in that, The clamping assembly (5) includes a pair of fixing blocks (5-1), both of which are disposed on both sides of the electrolytic cell body (1). Each fixing block (5-1) has a base frame (5-2) at its bottom, and a rectangular opening (5-3) is provided on the surface of the fixing block (5-1).

4. A cell apparatus for copper electrolysis according to claim 3, characterised in that, A stud (5-4) is vertically rotatably mounted inside the base frame (5-2). The upper end of the stud (5-4) is located inside the rectangular opening (5-3). A movable column (5-5) is vertically movably mounted inside the rectangular opening (5-3). The movable column (5-5) and the stud (5-4) are connected by a threaded connection.

5. A cell apparatus for copper electrolysis according to claim 4, characterised in that, A clamping frame (5-6) is rotatably connected to the upper end of a pair of movable columns (5-5) on the same side via a pin. The clamping frame (5-6) has an L-shaped cross-section and the top of the clamping frame (5-6) is located directly above the blocking block (3).

6. A cell apparatus for copper electrolysis according to claim 1, characterized in that, A sealing layer (6) is provided around the inner surface of the electrolytic cell body (1), and the sealing layer (6) is sealed and adhered to the inner plate (4-2) side surface around the circumference.

7. A cell apparatus for copper electrolysis according to claim 1, characterized in that, A pair of lifting rings (7) are provided at both ends of the surface of the inner plate (4-2).

8. A cell apparatus for copper electrolysis according to claim 4, characterized in that, The stud (5-4) is provided with a screw handle (8) at its lower end. The screw handle (8) has a polygonal structure.

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