Electrolysis Anode Frame Cavity for Oxygen Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing anode bag assemblies in electrowinning processes are not gas-tight, leading to uneven underpressure, low acid concentration in some anolyte, and high acid concentration in others, causing additional costs and health hazards due to nickel emissions and acid mist.
Innovation Solution
A frame design with a downwardly opening cavity and integral skirt flanges that acts as an air lock to prevent ambient air contamination, allowing for the collection of 99% pure oxygen and high acid concentration anolyte, which can be used in acid-oxygen pressure leaching processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional frame design is used for anode bags, then the structure is simple, but the assembly is not gas-tight leading to air leakage and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is divided into multiple components: top beam, vertical beams, bottom beam, and skirt flanges. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall gas-tightness. The top beam with its cavity and the skirt flanges working together create sealed zones that prevent air leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The cavity in the top beam acts as an intermediary chamber that collects oxygen generated during electrolysis and directs it to the suction tube. This intermediate space prevents direct mixing of ambient air with the collected gas, ensuring gas-tight operation and pure oxygen recovery.
2Stability of the object's composition
If ambient air enters the anode bag, then the structure remains simple, but underpressure becomes uneven and acid concentration varies
Solution Approach 1:
The skirt flanges extend downward to create a sealed zone that prevents ambient air from entering the anode bag before air leakage can occur. This preliminary protective action maintains uniform underpressure and consistent acid concentration throughout the electrolyte.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame design uses simple, easily replaceable components that can be quickly assembled and disassembled. The skirt flanges and beam connections are designed for rapid installation, allowing frequent replacement to maintain optimal performance without complex adjustment mechanisms.
3Reliability
If the frame is designed with multiple components for gas-tightness, then gas-tightness improves, but assembly and maintenance become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is divided into modular components (top beam, vertical beams, bottom beam, skirt flanges) that can be independently assembled and disassembled. This segmentation simplifies repair operations, as individual parts can be replaced without dismantling the entire structure, despite the enhanced gas-tight design.
Solution Approach 2:
The skirt flanges are integrated with the top beam to form a unified gas-tight structure. This merging of components creates the necessary sealed environment while reducing the number of separate connection points that would require complex assembly procedures.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If oxygen is not collected properly, then the structure remains simple, but acid mist and nickel emissions increase causing health hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity in the top beam extracts and isolates the oxygen generated during electrolysis from the rest of the system. By separating the gas collection function into a dedicated chamber, the design effectively removes harmful emissions (acid mist and nickel particles) from the atmosphere while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The design converts the potentially harmful byproducts of electrolysis (oxygen, acid mist, nickel emissions) into beneficial outcomes. The cavity captures oxygen for potential reuse, while the sealed structure prevents acid mist and nickel particles from becoming airborne contaminants, turning environmental hazards into controlled process outputs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables the recovery of high acid concentration anolyte and pure oxygen, reducing production costs and health risks by minimizing acid mist and nickel emissions, while being easy to assemble, repair, and maintain.
Implementation Method 1
separating the anolyte and the catholyte from each other by a material that permeates the electrolyte in a controlled manner, such as a diaphragm fabric
Implementation Method 2
The flow of electrolyte is provided by means of a pressure difference between the anodic and cathodic compartments, including a hydrostatic pressure (caused by the difference of height between the anolyte and catholyte surfaces), and this prevents the back diffusion of hydrogen ions into the catholyte compartment
Implementation Method 3
The top beam comprises downwardly extending skirt flanges which are integral with the top beam. The skirt flanges laterally limit the inner space of the cavity for collecting, in operation, into the cavity pure oxygen generated on the anode plate during the electrolysis process
Implementation Method 4
When an electric current is conducted to the electrolysis system, metal is precipitated on the surface of the cathode and oxygen is generated on the anodes when the water decomposes
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention concerns a frame (1) to which a bag (2) of diaphragm fabric used in an electrolysis process is attachable and to the inside of said bag an anode plate (3) is adaptable. The frame (1) comprises a horizontal top beam (4) having a first end (5) and a second end (6), an upper side (7) and a lower side (8), the anode plate being sealably attachable in relation to the top beam at the longitudinal vertical middle plane of the top beam. A vertical first beam (9) having a first upper end (10) is connected to the first end (5) of the top beam. A vertical second beam (11) having a second upper end (12) is connected to the second end (6) of the top beam. The top beam (4) comprises a cavity (13) which opens downwardly and ex- tends along the length of the lower side (8) of the top beam. The invention also concerns an electrolysis system for electrowinning a metal from an electrolyte that contains a metallic salt. The system comprises electrolytic cells (20), each of said cells having means for keeping the electrolyte at a predetermined level (L). A number of anode plates (3) and cathode plates (21) are immersed in the electrolyte in an alternating and consecutive manner. Each anode plate (3) is arranged inside the frame (1) onto which a bag (2) of diaphragm fabric is attached to form an anode bag assembly (22. The cavity (13)in the top beam (4)collects pure oxygen generated on the anode plate during the electrolysis process.