ELECTROLYSIS CELL

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrolysis cell (10) developed for the purpose of recovering metal by electrolysis, which enables the retention of metal ions on the cathode plates (12) thanks to the electric field created between the anode plates (11) and the cathode plates (12). The electrolysis cell (10) shortens the service time by eliminating the need for cabling through the use of a copper busbar (14) and busbar insulator (13), allows stable operation at variable flow rates and ensures high metal retention. In addition, the lid (17) controlled by a hydraulic unit (15) and the PLC unit (16) enable the system to be operated safely, automatically and with internal cell cleaning.

Description

1 TARIFF ELECTROLYSIS CELL Technical Area The invention describes a method of metal recovery through electrolysis, with 5-inch anode and cathode plates. thanks to the electric field created, precious metal ions are held on the cathode plates. It is related to an electrolysis cell that provides this. The invention, in particular, eliminates the need for cabling the plates by using copper busbars, making it variable. capable of operating at high flow rates, possessing high metal retention capacity, and performing plate washing operations in 10 It involves an innovative electrolysis cell that allows the process to be carried out inside the cell. State of the Art Metal recovery by electrolysis involves the electrochemical extraction of precious metals from metal-containing solutions. It is based on the principle of separating and collecting metal ions; in this method, metal ions are separated and collected under an electric field. Thanks to the current flowing between the anode and cathode electrodes, the metal precipitates as metal at the cathode and In this way, metals such as copper, gold, and silver found in the solutions are recovered. This method is particularly useful. Widely used for purifying metals such as copper and recovering them from industrial wastewater. It is a process used that requires less energy and 20 compared to traditional metal recovery methods. It aims to increase process efficiency while allowing the use of chemicals. In current applications, electrolysis cells involve a complex network of electrode plates. These plates contain wiring and electrical connections, and are usually covered with heavy covers. Manual intervention is required and work is carried out with a limited number of plates; these situations 25 This both extends the service life of the equipment and provides flexibility in working with high flow rates. This is a limitation. Also, the plates must be removed from the electrolysis cell during the washing process. Process interruptions occur due to necessity, which increases labor and time costs. These technical challenges include the complexity of the connections and the manual lifting of heavy covers. In addition to ergonomic and maintenance issues, the possibility of efficient operation at variable flow rates is limited. 30 It is known to lead to significant performance disadvantages, such as those mentioned above. Examples of existing technologies include project number EP0309389A3 and “Process and apparatus for the The patent application titled "electrolytic recovery of precious metals" concerns gold found in a liquid medium. a system for recovering precious metals such as silver and platinum using electrolytic methods and 35 2 The method is explained. In the invention, one or more electrolysis cells are used, as the cathode. Reticular metal foam structures with a high surface area have been preferred, and thus precious metals The aim is to keep the ions on the cathode. However, in this system, the electrolysis plates how to simplify electrical connections and eliminate the need for extensive cabling 5 regarding how to remove or facilitate intracellular plate placement and maintenance processes No structural or functional solution is offered. Therefore, heavy covers... Manual opening and closing, the number of plates being limited due to the equipment geometry, requirements such as operating at a constant flow rate and removing the plates from the cell for washing operations. Operational problems encountered in practice cannot be resolved under this patent. Another example is WO2014 / 195574A1, titled “Depolarized Anode Electrowinning Cell and The patent application, titled "Method", describes the process of electrolyzing metal from solutions containing metal ions. This invention describes an electrowinning cell and a related method aimed at achieving this goal. electrochemical reactions that take place between the anode and cathode located within the cell, Thanks to the depolarization reactions carried out especially on the anode side, lower cell count is achieved. 15 The aim is to operate it with lower voltage and less energy consumption, thereby enabling metal recovery. The aim is to increase the energy efficiency of the process. However, the solution described in this document, It focuses primarily on the thermodynamic and electrical efficiency of electrochemical reactions. problems related to the mechanical structure of the electrolysis cell, plate arrangement, and ease of operation. It does not offer any structural improvements in this regard. In particular, the high density of electrolysis plates is 20 cabling requirements, heavy cell covers that need to be opened and closed manually, The limited number of plates that can be used within the cell makes it impossible to operate at variable flow rates. not recognizing and removing the plates from the electrolysis cell during the washing processes Operational and maintenance-related issues, such as those that may arise, are not addressed in this document and their resolution is not possible. It has not been resolved. Therefore, the application in question concerns chemical 25 aimed at reducing energy consumption. Although it offers electrochemical improvements, service life and maintenance issues encountered on an industrial scale remain. It falls short of solving fundamental problems such as ease of use and process flexibility. Although techniques for electrolysis cells for metal recovery have been developed, existing ones... In applications, the cabling density of the plates, the manual and heavy structure of the cell covers, and the limited 30 the requirement to operate at a constant flow rate with a certain number of plates and the need to remove the plates from the electrolysis cell for washing Significant problems such as extraction have not been eliminated. Therefore, current technologies, This requires new solutions in terms of operational efficiency and ease of maintenance. As a result... the need for an electrolysis cell that eliminates the disadvantages existing in the current technology Its existence and the inadequacy of existing solutions have made it necessary to develop a solution in the relevant technical field. 35 3 Brief Description of the Invention The present invention meets the aforementioned requirements while eliminating all disadvantages. and metal recovery is carried out by electrolysis, a method that offers some additional advantages, with an anode and Thanks to the electric field created between the cathode plates, precious metal ions are drawn to the cathode plates. It involves an electrolysis cell that allows it to be held in place. Based on the current state of the art, the aim of the invention is the recovery of metals by electrolysis. shortening maintenance time in processes, increasing operational flexibility and improving metal recovery efficiency. a more efficient and integrated electrolysis system that enhances efficiency while also providing ease of use and service. The goal is to reveal the cell. The aim of the invention is to eliminate the complex gap between the anode and cathode plates through the use of a copper busbar. The goal is to eliminate the need for cabling. Another purpose of the invention is maintenance and service thanks to its wiring-free and modular plate connection structure. The goal is to enable these processes to be completed much more quickly and easily. Another objective of the invention is to optimize fluid inlet-outlet and intracellular flow distribution. This enables the system to operate stably at different and variable flow rates. 20 Another aim of the invention is to increase the effective surface area of ​​the plates and the current transmission efficiency of the cells. Its structure allows a large amount of metal ions to be retained on the cathode plates. Another objective of the invention is to perform plate washing processes directly within the electrolysis cell. Thanks to its design that makes this possible, the need for an external washing tank is eliminated. its removal. The structural and characteristic features and all the advantages of the invention are given in the figures below and in relation to these figures. This will be understood more clearly thanks to the detailed explanation written with references, this 30 Therefore, the evaluation should be made taking these figures and detailed explanations into consideration. is required. Brief Description of the Figures 35 The structure of the current invention and the best understanding of its advantages, including additional components. This should be evaluated together with the figures explained below. 4 Figure 1 shows a schematic overview of the electrolysis cell. Reference Numbers 10. Electrolysis cell 11. Anode plate 12. Cathode plate 13. Busbar insulator 14. Copper busbar 10 15. Hydraulic unit 16. PLC unit 17. Cover Detailed Description of the Invention 15 This detailed explanation describes how the invention involves the recovery of metal through electrolysis. The electric field created between the anode and cathode plates allows precious metal ions to reach the cathode. An electrolysis cell (10) that keeps the plates on the surface is only better than the subject It is explained as an example to facilitate understanding and in a way that does not create any limiting effects. 20 The electrolysis cell (10) shown in Figure-1 is intended for the purpose of recovering metal by electrolysis method. designed, a controlled electrical current is created between the anode plates (11) and the cathode plates (12). This field enables the separation and recovery of metal ions from the solution. It is an integrated system. The electrolysis cell (10) is optimized both electrically and mechanically. 25 Thanks to its well-designed structure, it offers ease of maintenance, service and operation, while also being suitable for variable flow rates. It offers a combination of advantages such as operational capability and high metal holding capacity. Electrolysis cell (10) is modular and scalable so that it can be used in all electrolysis methods. It is designed in this structure. The basic working principle of the electrolysis cell (10) is that the charged solution containing precious metals such as gold It starts with the supply of the solution from the inlet flange. The solution taken into the electrolysis cell (10) is placed on the anode plates. While flowing between the cathode plates (11) and the anode plates (12), with the help of a rectifier, these anode plates (11) and A potential difference is created between the cathode plates (12). As a result of this potential difference, Due to the effect of the incoming electric field, positively charged metal ions move towards the cathode plates (12) and 35 It adheres to the surface of these anode plates (12) and accumulates as metal. When the electrolysis process is complete, The cathode plates (12) are washed inside the electrolysis cell (10) and the precious metals that accumulate on them are washed away. This ensures efficiency and thus eliminates the need for an external washing tank. The anode plate (11) enables the creation of a potential difference inside the electrolysis cell (10). They are negatively charged plates. The function of the anode plates (11) is to initiate the electrolytic reaction. and contributes to the formation of an electric field. Anode plates (11) are the electrolysis cell (10) inside the body, alternating and opposite with the cathode plates (12) The anode plates (11) are positioned to be electrically connected to the copper busbar (14). The busbar insulator (13) is positioned as follows and the distance between the anode plates (11) and the cathode plates (12) It is securely fastened with the help of 10 The cathode plate (12) is positively charged inside the electrolysis cell (10) and the precious metal ions Cathode plates are plates on whose surface the metal is held by the effect of an electric field. The basic function of cathode plates (12) is to hold the metal The aim is to recover metal by causing the ions to precipitate. Cathode plates (12), anode The plates (11) are arranged in a sequential order, and the internal volume of the electrolysis cell (10) is 15 It is positioned to provide a homogeneous flow and electric field distribution throughout. Cathode The plates (12) are connected to the electrolysis cell (10) via the copper busbar (14) to ensure even and balanced operation. a current is transmitted. The busbar insulator (13) provides electrical insulation between the anode plates (11) and the cathode plates (12). It is a separating component that provides. The function of the busbar insulator (13) is to separate the anode plates (11) from the cathode plates. (12) to prevent unwanted short circuits and to ensure that the electric current is only available at the desired location. The aim is to ensure transmission through the pathways. The busbar insulator (13), anode plates (11) and cathode The plates (12) are positioned on the edge and contact areas of the electrolysis cell (10) inside It is mechanically fixed to the structure. During assembly, the anode plates (11) and cathode plates (12) 25 The connections to the copper busbar (14) are made securely by separating it with the busbar insulator (13). The copper busbar (14) forms the electrical infrastructure of the electrolysis cell (10) and the current passes through the anode plates. It is the conductive element that ensures the transmission of even and uniform energy to the cathode plates (11) and (12). Copper Thanks to the use of the busbar (14), the need for traditional cabling has been eliminated and the system has been 30 Both assembly and maintenance have been greatly simplified. The copper busbar (14) is the electrolysis cell. (10) are positioned in the upper or side areas to make contact with the plates. Assembly During this time, the copper busbar (14) is connected to the electrolysis cell (10) housing via the busbar insulator (13). Electrical connection by mechanical contact with the anode plates (11) and cathode plates (12) by fixing them. is provided. 35 6 The hydraulic unit (15) can be safely and controllably opened (17) of the electrolysis cell (10) without touching the lid. It is a mechanical system that enables opening and closing in a way that is particularly heavy. The task of the hydraulic unit (15) is to open and close the hydraulic unit, especially heavy to eliminate operator intervention on the covers (17) and maintenance and service operations The hydraulic units (15) are located on the outer casing of the electrolysis cell (10), each cover (17) It is positioned to be connected with the hydraulic unit (15) during assembly, cover (17) and 5 They are joined using articulated joints and controlled via hydraulic lines. The PLC unit (16) is the control unit that manages and monitors all operating parameters of the electrolysis cell (10). It is a unit. The task of the PLC unit (16) is to operate the system, adjust the process conditions, flow rate and Calibration of variables such as time and monitoring of the working electrolysis cell (10) 10 The PLC unit (16) is located outside the electrolysis cell (10), in a place easily accessible to the operator. It is located at the point. The PLC unit (16) is connected to the copper busbar (14) via electrical connections. It is integrated with the hydraulic unit (15) and other system components. The cover (17) contains the anode plates (11) and cathode plates (12) of the electrolysis cell (10). It is the structural element that closes the top of the cell body and isolates the inside of the cell from the external environment. Lid (17) creates a safe working environment by providing a seal during the electrolysis process. Cover (17) is mounted on the top of the electrolysis cell (10) in a hinged or articulated manner and It opens and closes automatically in connection with the hydraulic unit (15).

Claims

7 REQUESTS 1. It is an electrolysis cell (10) used for the purpose of recovering metal by electrolysis, and its feature is; - metal recovery without the need for an external washing tank electrolysis cell (10) at least one cathode plate (12) in which it can be washed, 5 - configured to have a negative electron charge in order to create a potential difference, and at least one anode plate (11) that initiates the electrolytic reaction, - between anode plates (11) and cathode plates (12) without the need for wiring copper busbar (14) that establishes electrical connection; - to prevent the formation of a short circuit between the anode plates (11) and the cathode plates (12) 10 It includes a busbar insulator (13) which provides electrical insulation.

2. The electrolysis cell (10) conforming to claim 1 is characterized by its function of electrolyzing the positively charged metal in the solution. retention of ions on the surface by the effect of an electric field and metal recovery For this to be realized, the cathode plates (12) must be positively charged.

3. The electrolysis cell (10) conforming to claim 1 is characterized by its internal and external 15 to isolate from the environment, ensure airtightness, and facilitate maintenance procedures the housing in which the electrolysis cell (10) contains the anode plates (11) and cathode plates (12) It contains a lid (17) located on the top.

4. The electrolysis cell (10) conforming to claim 3 is characterized by its lid (17) being touchless, controlled and It includes a hydraulic unit (15) for safe opening and closing. 20 5. The electrolysis cell (10) conforming to claim 1 is characterized by: operation of the electrolysis cell (10), PLC unit (16) for setting process conditions and monitoring the system during operation It includes.