Polygonal Drum Gold Recycling Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gold recycling devices using cold aqua regia face limitations in reaction speed, and heating the acids to increase speed comes with handling challenges and vapor production.
Innovation Solution
A gold recycling device with a drum having a polygonal inner cross-section, such as pentagonal, hexagonal, or octagonal, to increase friction and reaction rate without heating, supported by a circular outer surface for handling convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hot aqua regia is used to increase reaction speed, then the gold separation rate is improved, but handling becomes more difficult and aggressive vapors are produced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameter of the acid solution by using cold aqua regia instead of hot aqua regia, thereby avoiding the harmful effects of heating (aggressive vapors, handling difficulties) while maintaining effective gold separation through the mechanical action of the polygonal drum
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the thermal mechanism (heating) with a mechanical mechanism (polygonal drum rotation). The drum's polygonal cross-section creates friction and mechanical agitation that accelerates the chemical reaction, substituting the need for thermal energy with mechanical energy
2Ease of operation
If cold aqua regia is used to simplify handling, then safety is improved, but the reaction speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating polygonal drum creates mechanical agitation and vibration of the granulate material, enhancing the contact between the acid solution and the gold-containing material. This mechanical action accelerates the chemical reaction rate of cold aqua regia, compensating for the lower thermal energy
3Ease of manufacture
If the inner wall of the drum is made circular for ease of manufacturing, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but friction and reaction rate are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies asymmetry by using a polygonal cross-section (pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, or octagonal) instead of a circular cross-section for the drum's inner wall. This asymmetric geometry creates varying friction zones during rotation, enhancing the mechanical agitation of the granulate material and increasing the reaction rate
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 device achieves a higher gold separation rate with increased friction from the polygonal inner cross-section, maintaining ease of handling and manufacturing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the friction, which seems to be partly responsible for the increase in the reaction speed in the generic devices, can be significantly increased simply by the fact that the inner wall of the casing of the drum no longer has a circular but a polygonal cross-section
Implementation Method 2
so-called aqua regia (a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid) can be used to oxidize metallic gold and thus convert it into an aqueous solution
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
The device comprises a rotatably mounted drum (10) having a jacket (12) and two end walls, where the drum extends itself at an angle to a horizontal axis of rotation, a drive device by which the drum is displaceable in rotation, and acid containers (35, 36) that stand with a tube (30) in flow connections. The jacket comprises a closable opening (22), where an upper end wall has a bore, through which the tube opens in an inner side of the drum. An inner wall of the jacket has a polygonal cross-section. The regular polygon is a pentagon, hexagon, heptagon or octagon. The device comprises a rotatably mounted drum (10) having a jacket (12) and two end walls, where the drum extends itself at an angle to a horizontal axis of rotation, a drive device by which the drum is displaceable in rotation, and acid containers (35, 36) that stand with a tube (30) in flow connections. The jacket comprises a closable opening (22), where an upper end wall has a bore, through which the tube opens in an inner side of the drum. An inner wall of the jacket has a polygonal cross-section. The regular polygon is a pentagon, hexagon, heptagon or octagon. An outer wall of the jacket is a polygon so that the jacket consists of plates that are welded-together. The drum comprises a support surface facing externally with a circular cross-section, which extends itself concentric to the axis of rotation. A support roller is provided, and supports the drum over the support surface. The support surface is an outer surface of a flange, which forms the upper end wall. The drive device is a motor, which is coupled by a drive shaft to a lower end wall.