Improved electric current sensing and management system for electrolytic plants

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electric current management (ECM) system and method comprising at least one electrolytic cell having at least two electrodes in contact with electrolyte media; a plurality of sensor means for measuring the current passing through one or more electrodes, said sensor means being located inside at least one ECM bar installed in one or more operating electrolytic cells; a support means for supporting at least one ECM bar in each cell; wherein the support means is adapted to avoid disruption to normal electrode movements and damage to the ECM bar. The present invention introduces improvements for minimizing the effects that several types of variables have on current measurement, such as magnetic field interference, cell geometry and contact configuration, in order to provide a reliable approximation of the current passing through each electrode. The present invention can be applied to real time monitoring of each cathode, or anode, constituting a metal electrowinning or electrorefining cell or other electrolytic cell.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to improvements in the operation of metallurgical systems, in particular electrometallurgical systems, and electrolytic cells and / or chambers. [0002] The invention can be applied in particular to real-time monitoring of each cathode or anode constituting a metal electrowinning cell or an electrorefining cell or other electrolytic cells with parallel electrodes. Background technique [0003] Metal extraction processes, such as those for copper, typically include an electrowinning or electrorefining recovery step. With regard to these steps, it offers the advantage of monitoring in real time the performance of each metal plate in order to achieve the optimum performance of the pothouse. [0004] In electrolytic processes, short circuits can occur if the electrodes are not arranged in alignment where there is uneven metal growth on the surface due to physical defects, which can be the result of operational problems such as...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

It is also valuable to be able to know in time when the current setting in the electrolysis chamber is changed and to adjust the deposition time based on elapsed ampere hours, but this requires additional calculations for each tank

Additionally, where human error occurs such that data is not recorded correctly and cells are not harvested within an acceptable time period, this can lead to inconsistent cathode weights, poor morphology, short circuits, anode damage and reduced current efficiency

[0011] Where workshops have fully automatic cranes that are able to record the precise time of harvesting the chute, but such systems are expensive and most electrolysis houses do not have these cranes

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