A continuous hydrometallurgical leaching apparatus

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of hydrometallurgy, especially to a continuous leaching device for hydrometallurgy, which comprises multiple leaching tanks, multiple first overflow pipes provided with first valves, a second overflow pipe provided with multiple second valves and multiple connecting pipes, and through selective opening and closing of the multiple first valves and the multiple second valves, the material to be processed in the leaching tanks can selectively bypass any intermediate leaching tank. The beneficial effects are that through selective opening and closing of the first valves and the second valves, the material to be processed can flexibly bypass any intermediate leaching tank with a fault, avoiding interruption of the whole process caused by a single leaching tank fault and effectively ensuring production continuity. Meanwhile, the leaching tanks are distributed in a stepped downward manner from front to back, and material self-flow is realized by relying on gravity, without the need for additional power equipment, which reduces energy consumption and the risk of power component failure. The overall structure is simple and can meet the needs of industrialized large-scale production of hydrometallurgy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of hydrometallurgical technology, and in particular to a continuous leaching device for hydrometallurgical processes. Background Technology

[0002] Hydrometallurgy is a core technology for the large-scale extraction of metals such as copper, zinc, and nickel. With its outstanding advantages of low energy consumption and high metal recovery rate, it occupies an important position and is widely used in the mineral processing field. In the hydrometallurgical process system, the continuous leaching unit is a key piece of equipment for achieving efficient material processing. Through a multi-stage tank series design, it allows the mineral raw materials (pretreated slurry or coarse-grained materials) to continuously contact and react with the leaching agent (acid, alkali, ammonia, etc.). This not only effectively eliminates the idle time of "feeding-waiting-discharging" in the intermittent leaching mode, but also allows for precise control of key parameters such as temperature, stirring rate, and leaching agent concentration in each stage of the tank. Furthermore, it can seamlessly integrate with subsequent continuous extraction and electrolytic deposition processes, fully adapting to the needs of large-scale industrial production and has become the mainstream configuration in modern hydrometallurgical plants.

[0003] Existing multi-stage series continuous leaching units still suffer from key technical defects that restrict production stability and efficiency in practical industrial applications, with poor fault tolerance being particularly prominent. Because the material is transported in a rigid series transmission mode, each stage of the tank is connected sequentially via pipelines, and the material must be transported and reacted along a fixed path: "previous stage tank → intermediate stage tank → subsequent stage tank." When a fault occurs in an intermediate stage tank, such as agitation failure, pipeline blockage, or seal leakage, the material from the preceding stage tank cannot be properly transported to the faulty tank, and the subsequent stage tank is forced to stop due to lack of material replenishment. At this point, the system must be shut down to empty the slurry residue from the faulty tank, repair the faulty components, and after repair, readjust the tank reaction parameters to restore stability. This entire process leads to a complete interruption of the continuous leaching process, severely impacting production efficiency and failing to meet the continuous and stable production requirements of hydrometallurgical processes.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a continuous leaching device for hydrometallurgy that can ensure uninterrupted production even if the intermediate tank fails. Utility Model Content

[0005] (a) Technical problems to be solved

[0006] In view of the above-mentioned shortcomings and deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a continuous leaching device for hydrometallurgy, which solves the technical problem that production needs to be interrupted for maintenance when the intermediate leaching tank of the existing continuous leaching device malfunctions.

[0007] (II) Technical Solution

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the main technical solutions adopted by this utility model include:

[0009] This utility model provides a continuous leaching device for hydrometallurgy, including multiple leaching tanks, multiple first overflow pipes with first valves, multiple second overflow pipes with multiple second valves, and multiple connecting pipes. The multiple leaching tanks are distributed in a stepped, downward direction. Adjacent leaching tanks are connected through a first overflow pipe, and each first overflow pipe is connected to a second overflow pipe through a connecting pipe. The first overflow pipe has a first position connected to the connecting pipe, and the first position is located behind the first valve. The second overflow pipe has multiple second positions connected to the connecting pipe, and the second valve is located between two adjacent second positions. By selectively opening and closing the multiple first valves and multiple second valves, the material to be processed in the leaching tank can selectively bypass any intermediate leaching tank.

[0010] Optionally, the plurality of first overflow pipes, second overflow pipes and plurality of connecting pipes are all located in a plane that slopes downward from back to front.

[0011] Optionally, a sampling port is provided on the first overflow pipe, and the sampling port is located behind the first valve.

[0012] Optionally, a closable sampling cover is hinged at the sampling port; the sampling cover includes a cover body and a handle, one side of the cover body is hinged to the first overflow pipe, and the handle is fixed to the outer side of the cover body.

[0013] Optionally, the height difference between two adjacent leaching tanks is within the range of 8cm-12cm.

[0014] Optionally, in addition to the final leaching tank, the other leaching tanks are also equipped with downcomers. One downcomer is connected to a first overflow pipe to facilitate the flow of the material to be processed to the bottom of the leaching tank, and the height of the top of the downcomer in one leaching tank is higher than the height of the first overflow pipe at the front of the leaching tank.

[0015] Optionally, the top of the last leaching tank is provided with a material inlet, and the tops of the other leaching tanks are provided with observation ports.

[0016] Optionally, a material outlet is provided in front of the foremost leaching tank, and the height of the material outlet is lower than the height of the first overflow pipe connected to the foremost leaching tank.

[0017] Optionally, the number of multiple leaching tanks is in the range of 4 to 6.

[0018] Optionally, the multiple first valves and multiple second valves are all ball valves.

[0019] (III) Beneficial Effects

[0020] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: This utility model provides a continuous leaching device for hydrometallurgy, comprising multiple leaching tanks, multiple first overflow pipes with first valves, multiple second overflow pipes with multiple second valves, and multiple connecting pipes. The multiple leaching tanks are arranged in a stepped, downward-sloping manner. Adjacent leaching tanks are connected through a first overflow pipe, and each first overflow pipe is connected to a second overflow pipe through a connecting pipe. The first overflow pipe has a first position connected to the connecting pipe, located behind the first valve. The second overflow pipe has multiple second positions connected to the connecting pipe, with second valves located between adjacent second positions. By selectively opening and closing the multiple first and second valves, the material to be processed in the leaching tank can selectively bypass any intermediate leaching tank. Compared to the prior art, by selectively opening or closing the first and second valves, the material to be processed can flexibly bypass any faulty intermediate leaching tank, avoiding a single leaching tank failure that could cause a complete process interruption, effectively ensuring production continuity. Meanwhile, the leaching tank is arranged in a stepped, downward-sloping pattern along its front and back, allowing materials to flow by gravity without the need for additional power equipment. This reduces energy consumption and the risk of power component failure. The overall structure is simple and easy to operate, making it suitable for large-scale industrial production in hydrometallurgy and significantly improving production stability and operational efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Embodiment 1 of the continuous leaching device for hydrometallurgy of this utility model;

[0022] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A partial top view of a continuous leaching apparatus for hydrometallurgy is shown.

[0023] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A top view of the final leaching tank in a continuous leaching apparatus for hydrometallurgy.

[0024] Figure 4 for Figure 1 The rear view of the last leaching tank in a continuous leaching apparatus for hydrometallurgy is shown.

[0025] Figure 5 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a downcomer in a continuous leaching apparatus for hydrometallurgy is shown.

[0026] Figure 6 This is a partial schematic diagram of Embodiment 2 of the continuous leaching apparatus for hydrometallurgy of this utility model.

[0027] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0028] 1: Leaching tank; 2: First valve; 3: First overflow pipe; 4: Second valve; 5: Second overflow pipe; 6: Connecting pipe; 7: Sampling port; 8: Sampling cover; 9: Downcomer; 10: Material inlet; 11: Observation port. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To better explain and facilitate understanding of this utility model, a detailed description of its specific embodiments is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this document, directional terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," and "rear" are used interchangeably with other directional terms. Figure 1 The orientation is used as a reference. "Front" is the direction in which the material to be processed moves, and "back" corresponds to "front".

[0030] Example 1:

[0031] Reference Figures 1 to 5 This embodiment proposes a continuous leaching device for hydrometallurgy, which enables repair of the faulty leaching tank 1 without stopping operation when the intermediate leaching tank 1 malfunctions. Specifically, the continuous leaching device for hydrometallurgy in this embodiment includes multiple leaching tanks 1, multiple first overflow pipes 3 with first valves 2, multiple second overflow pipes 5 with multiple second valves 4, and multiple connecting pipes 6, as detailed below.

[0032] In this embodiment, the leaching tanks 1 are arranged in a stepped, downward-sloping pattern from back to front. This arrangement allows gravity to power the flow of the material to be processed, eliminating the need for additional power conveying components. Adjacent leaching tanks 1 are connected by a first overflow pipe 3. Under normal production conditions, the material to be processed flows naturally from the rear leaching tank 1 to the front leaching tank 1 along the first overflow pipe 3, completing the step-by-step leaching reaction. Each first overflow pipe 3 is connected to a second overflow pipe 5 via a connecting pipe 6. The position for connecting the connecting pipe 6 (i.e., the first position) on the first overflow pipe 3 is located behind the first valve 2. This arrangement allows control of the flow of the material to be processed within the first overflow pipe 3 by opening and closing the first valve 2.

[0033] On the second overflow pipe 5, there are multiple positions for connecting the connecting pipe 6 (i.e., second positions), and the second valve 4 is set between two adjacent second positions. By adjusting the opening and closing of the second valve 4, the flow path of the material to be processed in different sections of the second overflow pipe 5 can be flexibly controlled.

[0034] When a leaching tank 1 malfunctions and needs to be suspended, the first valve 2 corresponding to the malfunctioning leaching tank 1 is selectively closed to block the path of the material to be processed into the malfunctioning leaching tank 1. At the same time, the second valves 4 corresponding to the front and rear of the malfunctioning leaching tank 1 are opened. At this time, the material to be processed can be introduced from the first position of the first overflow pipe 3 through the connecting pipe 6 into the second overflow pipe 5, and then flow along the second overflow pipe 5 to the leaching tank 1 in front of the malfunctioning leaching tank 1. This achieves selective bypass of any malfunctioning leaching tank 1 in the middle, ensuring the continuous operation of the overall leaching process.

[0035] In summary, compared to existing technologies, the selective opening or closing of the first valve 2 and the second valve 4 allows the material to be processed to flexibly bypass any faulty leaching tank 1, preventing a single malfunction of leaching tank 1 from causing a complete process interruption and effectively ensuring production continuity. Simultaneously, the leaching tank 1 is arranged in a stepped, downward-sloping pattern, relying on gravity for material flow without the need for additional power equipment, thus reducing energy consumption and the risk of power component failure. The overall structure is simple and easy to operate, adaptable to the large-scale industrial production needs of hydrometallurgy, and significantly improves production stability and operational efficiency.

[0036] Furthermore, the multiple first overflow pipes 3, the second overflow pipes 5, and the multiple connecting pipes 6 are all located in the same plane, which is inclined downwards from back to front as a whole.

[0037] The inclination direction of this plane matches the stepped downward distribution trend of leaching tank 1 along the front-to-back direction, ensuring a synergistic effect in their layout. With this inclined plane design, the material to be processed can flow naturally under its own weight within the multiple first overflow pipes 3, second overflow pipes 5, and connecting pipes 6, without the need for additional power equipment. This avoids material stagnation and accumulation within the pipelines, reducing the risk of pipeline blockage caused by material retention, and ensures smooth material transfer between different pipelines. It also provides a stable pipeline foundation for subsequent selective bypassing of faulty leaching tank 1 via valve control, further ensuring the continuity and stability of the overall leaching reaction.

[0038] Furthermore, the height difference between two adjacent leaching tanks 1 is within the range of 8cm-12cm, which matches the overall distribution trend of the leaching tanks 1 in a step-like downward slope along the front-back direction.

[0039] Furthermore, except for the leaching tank 1 located at the rear, all other leaching tanks 1 are equipped with downcomers 9. The downcomer 9 is connected to the first overflow pipe 3 connected to the corresponding leaching tank 1. Through this connection between the downcomer 9 and the first overflow pipe 3, the material to be processed flowing into the leaching tank 1 from the front through the first overflow pipe 3 can be directly transported to the bottom area of ​​the current leaching tank 1 by means of the downcomer 9.

[0040] Considering the reaction requirements of the material in the leaching tank 1, the height of the top of the downcomer 9 is designed to be higher than the height of the first overflow pipe 3 on the front side of the current leaching tank 1. This height difference design has a dual function: on the one hand, it ensures that a sufficient leaching agent level is maintained in the current leaching tank 1, providing sufficient residence time for the material and leaching agent to fully contact each other in the tank and complete the leaching reaction, avoiding incomplete reaction of the material to be processed due to too low a leaching agent level. On the other hand, it prevents the material to be processed from flowing directly to the next stage leaching tank 1 through the first overflow pipe 3 on the front side without sufficient reaction at the bottom, effectively ensuring the leaching efficiency of each stage leaching tank 1, while also adapting to the overall stepped, downward sloping distribution trend of the leaching tank 1, further optimizing the flow path and reaction effect of the material to be processed in the device.

[0041] Furthermore, a material inlet 10 is provided at the top of the last leaching tank 1. The material inlet 10 serves as the initial channel for the material to be processed and the leaching agent to enter the device. After the initial material to be processed and the leaching agent enter the last leaching tank 1 through this inlet, they can gradually flow along the subsequent leaching tanks 1 and pipelines by gravity, providing a stable initial supply of material to be processed for the entire continuous leaching process and avoiding obstruction of the initial transport of material to be processed due to improper inlet position. Moreover, the material inlet 10 itself can also be used to observe the inside of the last leaching tank 1.

[0042] Except for the final leaching tank 1, all other leaching tanks 1 are equipped with observation ports 11 at their top. Operators can directly observe the leaching agent level and leaching reaction status (such as material sedimentation and bubble formation) of the material to be processed within the tank through these observation ports 11, allowing them to monitor the tank's operating conditions in real time without disassembling any tank components. This design not only promptly detects potential anomalies within the tank (such as insufficient reaction due to low liquid level or agitation failure caused by localized sedimentation), providing a direct reference for subsequent sampling, testing, and process parameter adjustments, but also assists in troubleshooting (such as determining the residual material inside a faulty tank), further improving the ease of operation and timeliness of process monitoring, and ensuring the stable operation of the overall leaching process.

[0043] Furthermore, a material outlet is provided in front of the leaching tank 1 at the very front. The material outlet serves as the final discharge channel after the entire device has finished processing the material to be processed. The location of the material outlet is designed to match the overall distribution trend of the leaching tank 1 in a stepped downward direction, ensuring that the material after reaction in each leaching tank 1 can be smoothly collected and discharged here, avoiding the retention of processed material at the end of the device.

[0044] Meanwhile, the height of the material outlet is designed to be lower than the height of the first overflow pipe 3 connected to the foremost leaching tank 1. This height difference design provides dual protection: firstly, it ensures that the foremost leaching tank 1 always maintains a sufficient material level, allowing the material flowing in from the rear leaching tank 1 through the first overflow pipe 3 enough time to complete the final stage of the leaching reaction within the tank, avoiding incomplete reaction due to a low liquid level. Secondly, it prevents the material from being discharged directly from the outlet without fully reacting in the foremost leaching tank 1, further ensuring the reaction efficiency of the entire continuous leaching process. This works in synergy with other structures within the continuous leaching unit (such as the height design of the downcomer 9) to jointly optimize the reaction and flow of the material.

[0045] Furthermore, the number of leaching tanks 1 is between 4 and 6, which is within a reasonably considered range. This range not only meets the processing capacity requirements of industrialized hydrometallurgical production, ensuring that the device can achieve sufficient reaction of the processed material through multiple leaching tanks 1 connected in series, but also aligns with the fault-tolerant design of the continuous leaching device: even if a leaching tank 1 malfunctions, the operator can easily bypass the faulty tank by adjusting the first valve 2 and the second valve 4, making the overall pipeline switching operation simpler and avoiding the complexity of control steps due to an excessive number of tanks. This ensures short process interruption time and further balances the device's production efficiency, reaction effect, and operational convenience, meeting the requirements for stable operation of the continuous leaching process.

[0046] Furthermore, the first valve 2, used to control the opening and closing of the first overflow pipe 3, and the second valve 4, used to regulate the flow path of the material to be processed in the second overflow pipe 5, both adopt ball valve structures. Ball valves have low flow resistance, which, in conjunction with the design of the device relying on gravity to achieve gravity-driven flow of the material to be processed, does not increase the flow resistance of the material to be processed due to the valve structure. This ensures smooth transmission of the material to be processed within the first overflow pipe 3, the second overflow pipe 5, and the connecting pipe 6. This, combined with the stepped inclined distribution of the leaching tank 1 and the inclined plane of the pipelines, forms an overall fit, jointly improving the stability and continuity of the device's operation.

[0047] Example 2:

[0048] Reference Figure 6 The difference between this embodiment and embodiment 1 is that this embodiment also includes a sampling port 7 and a sampling cover 8 disposed on the first overflow pipe 3, as detailed below.

[0049] In this embodiment, a sampling port 7 is provided on the first overflow pipe 3, and the sampling port 7 is located behind the first valve 2. This location ensures that the sample obtained is the material to be processed after being regulated by the first valve 2 and about to enter the next stage leaching tank 1 or be introduced into the connecting pipe 6. This accurately reflects the reaction state of the material at the current stage, providing an accurate sample basis for subsequent process parameter adjustments and avoiding the problem of deviation between the sample and the actual reacting material due to improper sampling location.

[0050] A sampling cover 8, which can be opened and closed, is hinged at the sampling port 7. The sampling cover 8 consists of two parts: a cover body and a handle. One side of the cover body is hinged to the outer wall of the first overflow pipe 3. The hinge structure allows the cover body to rotate around the hinge side, thereby controlling the opening and closing of the sampling port 7. When closed, it seals the sampling port 7, preventing material leakage from the sampling port 7 during the flow of material in the pipeline, and also preventing external impurities from entering the pipeline and contaminating the material. When open, material samples can be directly obtained from the sampling port 7 without disassembling pipeline components, simplifying the sampling operation process.

[0051] The handle is fixed to the outer side of the cover, allowing operators to easily control the opening and closing of the cover without directly contacting the connection between the cover and the pipeline. This reduces the difficulty of operation and prevents hands from being corroded by contact with the pipeline or potentially spilled materials, further improving the convenience and safety of sampling operations.

[0052] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this utility model, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0053] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; 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; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0054] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is 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 "beneath" the second feature can mean that the first feature is 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.

[0055] In the description of this specification, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0056] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make modifications, alterations, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A continuous leaching apparatus for hydrometallurgy, characterized in that: It includes multiple leaching tanks (1), multiple first overflow pipes (3) with first valves (2), multiple second overflow pipes (5) with multiple second valves (4), and multiple connecting pipes (6); Multiple leaching tanks (1) are distributed in a stepped downward direction. Two adjacent leaching tanks (1) are connected by a first overflow pipe (3). Each first overflow pipe (3) is connected to a second overflow pipe (5) through a connecting pipe (6). On the first overflow pipe (3), there is a first position connected to the connecting pipe (6), the first position being located behind the first valve (2); on the second overflow pipe (5), there are multiple second positions connected to the connecting pipe (6), the second valve (4) being located between two adjacent second positions; By selectively opening and closing multiple first valves (2) and multiple second valves (4), the material to be processed in the leaching tank (1) can selectively bypass any intermediate leaching tank (1).

2. The continuous leaching apparatus for hydrometallurgy as described in claim 1, characterized in that: Multiple first overflow pipes (3), second overflow pipes (5) and multiple connecting pipes (6) are all located in a plane that slopes downward from back to front.

3. The continuous leaching apparatus for hydrometallurgy as described in claim 1, characterized in that: A sampling port (7) is provided on the first overflow pipe (3), and the sampling port (7) is located behind the first valve (2).

4. The continuous leaching apparatus for hydrometallurgy as described in claim 3, characterized in that: A hinged sampling cover (8) is attached to the sampling port (7); The sampling cover (8) includes a cover body and a handle. One side of the cover body is hinged to the first overflow pipe (3), and the handle is fixed to the outer side of the cover body.

5. The continuous leaching apparatus for hydrometallurgy as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The height difference between two adjacent leaching tanks (1) is within the range of 8cm-12cm.

6. The continuous leaching apparatus for hydrometallurgy as described in claim 1, characterized in that: In addition to the last leaching tank (1), the other leaching tanks (1) are also equipped with downcomers (9). One downcomer (9) is connected to a first overflow pipe (3) to facilitate the flow of the material to be processed to the bottom of the leaching tank (1). The height of the top of the downcomer (9) in one leaching tank (1) is higher than the height of the first overflow pipe (3) on the front side of the leaching tank (1).

7. The continuous leaching apparatus for hydrometallurgy as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The last leaching tank (1) has a material inlet (10) at the top, and the other leaching tanks (1) have observation ports (11) at the top.

8. The continuous leaching apparatus for hydrometallurgy as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The foremost leaching tank (1) is also equipped with a material outlet, the height of which is lower than the height of the first overflow pipe (3) connected to the foremost leaching tank (1).

9. The continuous leaching apparatus for hydrometallurgy as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The number of multiple leaching tanks (1) is in the range of 4 to 6.

10. The continuous leaching apparatus for hydrometallurgy as described in claim 1, characterized in that: Multiple first valves (2) and multiple second valves (4) are ball valves.

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