Cyclical Alternate Electrification for Rare Earth Mining
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing in-situ leaching process for ion-adsorbed rare earths faces issues with electrode polarization, high power consumption, soil pollution due to acid and base production, and reduced leaching efficiency due to continuous electrification in rare earth mining.
Innovation Solution
A method and system employing cyclical alternate electrification, where the mining area is divided into equal parts, and electrodes are connected alternately to positive and negative electrodes in a controlled manner to reduce polarization and power demand, while ensuring efficient leaching agent exchange and ion migration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If continuous electrification is applied to improve rare earth extraction rate, then extraction efficiency is improved, but electrode polarization accumulates and hinders further mining
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic reversal of electrode polarity, switching between positive and negative polarity at regular intervals. This periodic action prevents charge accumulation on electrode surfaces by periodically removing accumulated charges, thereby maintaining sustained mining efficiency without the diminishing returns caused by continuous electrification.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple sets of electrodes are electrified simultaneously to cover large mining areas, then mining coverage is improved, but power consumption and transformer power requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the mining area into multiple segments with separate electrode sets, allowing independent control and electrification of each segment. This segmentation enables staged electrification where only necessary segments are activated at any given time, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining comprehensive mining coverage through sequential operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies electrification to only the necessary portions of the mining area at any given time rather than electrifying all electrodes simultaneously. By applying partial action to specific segments based on mining needs, the system achieves effective mining coverage while significantly reducing transformer power requirements and energy consumption.
3Quantity of substance
If water is electrolyzed during electrification to generate ions, then ion concentration is increased, but H+ weakens electroosmotic flow and OH- precipitates rare earth ions, reducing mining efficiency and polluting soil
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic polarity reversal to periodically eliminate accumulated H+ and OH- ions from the system. By switching polarity, the system prevents continuous electrolysis that would lead to harmful acid-base accumulation, thereby maintaining favorable chemical conditions for electroosmotic flow and rare earth ion migration throughout the mining process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of water electrolysis into a beneficial process by using periodic polarity reversal. Instead of allowing H+ and OH- to accumulate and cause damage, the system periodically reverses polarity to utilize these ions in neutralization reactions, transforming a harmful side effect into a self-regulating mechanism that maintains system efficiency and prevents soil pollution.
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
This approach reduces power consumption, construction costs, and soil pollution, while increasing the rare earth extraction rate by eliminating electrode polarization and optimizing leaching agent exchange during the mining process.
Implementation Method 1
applying a direct current between the electrodes using the electrification control system based on a set electrification method... the cyclical alternate electrification referring to that the mining area is divided into M equal parts
Implementation Method 2
as water is electrolyzed, H′ is generated at the anode to weaken the electroosmotic flow
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a method and system for mining rare earth ore using a direct current. The system includes: liquid injection holes arranged in a mining area; electrodes arranged in the liquid injection holes; a leaching agent added into the liquid injection holes; and an electrification control system dividing the mining area into M equal parts and electrifying the electrodes using a cyclical alternate electrification method from 1 to M. In an Nu electrification cycle, all electrodes of an (M×n+N)th row are connected to a positive electrode of a power supply, and all electrodes of an (M×n+N+1)th row are connected to a negative electrode of the power supply. The cyclical alternate electrification method reduces at least (M−1)/M of power consumption, and the rare earth mining efficiency is improved.