Device for monitoring current distribution in interconnected electrolytic cells

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016002800-A1
Application number	US-201414768697-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 20, 2014
Priority date	Feb 20, 2013
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for the continuous monitoring of current distribution in the cathodes and anodes of an electrolyser comprised of at least two adjacent electrolytic cells, each containing a multiplicity of said cathodes and anodes. The device according to the invention is composed essentially of at least one current-collecting bus-bar having housings suitable for supporting the electrodes and a base of insulating material whereon the bus-bar abuts. The base has integrated probes for measuring voltage. The invention also relates to a permanent monitoring system allowing to evaluate in continuous current distribution on each electrode in cells used in particular in metal electrowinning or electrorefining. The invention also relates to a method for retrofitting of an electrolyser comprising the replacement of an existing insulating base with a new base element having integrated probes for measuring voltage.

First claim

1 . Device for continuously monitoring current distribution in cathodes and anodes of an electrolyser consisting of at least two adjacent electrolysis cells, each containing a multiplicity of said cathodes and anodes, said device comprising at least one inter-cell current collecting bus-bar and at least one base element, said inter-cell current collecting bus-bar consisting of an elongated main body of homogeneous electrical conductivity, said body comprising housings for supporting said cathodes and/or anodes and establishing an electrical contact therewith, said housings being evenly spaced apart, said inter-cell current collecting bus-bar abutting on said at least one base element made of insulating material equipped with integrated probes for detecting an electrical voltage and for establishing electrical contacts in correspondence of said housings of said inter-cell current collecting bus-bar, wherein said probes for detecting an electrical voltage and establishing electrical contacts are equipped with a retractable tip in correspondence of said electrical contacts.

2 . Device for continuously monitoring current distribution in cathodes and anodes of an electrolyser consisting of at least two adjacent electrolysis cells, each containing a multiplicity of said cathodes and anodes, said device comprising an auxiliary cathode bus-bar, an auxiliary anode bus-bar, at least one inter-cell current collecting bus-bar arranged therebetween and at least one base element, said auxiliary bus-bars and said inter-cell bus-bar consisting of elongated bodies of homogeneous electrical conductivity, said inter-cell current collecting bus-bar consisting of an elongated main body of homogeneous electrical conductivity comprising housings for supporting said cathodes and/or anodes and establishing an electrical contact therewith, said auxiliary and said inter-cell bus-bars abutting on said at least one base element made of insulating material, said at least one base element containing integrated probes for detecting an electrical voltage and for establishing electrical contacts in correspondence of said housings of said inter-cell current collecting bus-bar and for detecting an electrical voltage and establishing electrical contacts evenly spaced on either of said auxiliary bus-bars, wherein said probes for detecting an electrical voltage and establishing electrical contacts are equipped with a retractable tip in correspondence of said electrical contacts.

3 . Device for continuously monitoring current distribution according to claim 1 , wherein said insulating material of said at least one base element is made of fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP).

4 . Device according to claim 1 wherein said probes for detecting an electrical voltage and establishing electrical contacts are cables or wires.

5 . Device according to claim 1 wherein said at least one base element comprises either rubber seals or springs lined with plastic fabric in correspondence of retractable tips.

6 . Electrolyser comprising a multiplicity of cells for metal electrodeposition, said cells being mutually connected in electrical series by means of a device according to claim 1 .

7 . Electrolyser according to claim 6 , wherein said multiplicity of cells is connected in electrical series:
at one end with a terminal cell whose anodes are connected to the positive pole of a direct power supply through a current collecting bus-bar equipped with housings for anodic electrical contacts; and at the other end with a terminal cell whose cathodes are connected to the negative pole of said direct power supply through a current collecting bus-bar equipped with housings for cathodic electrical contacts; said current collecting bus-bars abutting on at least one base element made of insulating material containing integrated probes for detecting an electrical voltage and establishing electrical contacts.

8 . System for continuously monitoring current distribution in cathodes and anodes of an electrolyser having a multiplicity of cells for metal electrodeposition each equipped with a multiplicity of said cathodes and anodes, the system comprising:
a device according to claim 1 ; analogue or digital computational means for obtaining current intensity values in each individual cathode and each anode starting from the electrical potential values detected by said probes; an alert device; a processor suitable for comparing the current intensity measurement provided by said computational means to a set of predefined critical values for each cathode and each anode; means for actuating said alert device whenever said current intensity results not compliant to said corresponding predefined critical value for any cathode or anode.

9 . Method for retrofitting an electrolyser consisting of at least two adjacent electrolysis cells and equipped with at least one inter-cell current collecting bus-bar, said inter-cell current collecting bus-bar consisting of an elongated main body of homogeneous electrical conductivity equipped with evenly spaced apart housings for supporting cathodes and/or anodes and establishing an electrical contact therewith, said inter-cell current collecting bus-bar abutting on at least one original base element made of insulating material comprising the steps of:
lifting said at least one inter-cell current collecting bus-bar from said original base element; substituting said original base element with at least-one replacement base element made of insulating material, said replacement base element containing integrated probes for detecting an electrical voltage and for establishing electrical contacts in correspondence of said housings of said at least one current collecting bus-bar, wherein said probes for detecting an electrical voltage and establishing electrical contacts are equipped with a retractable tip in correspondence of said electrical contacts; and putting said inter-cell current collecting bus-bar in abutment with said replacement base element.

10 . Method according to claim 9 wherein said electrolyser consisting of at least two adjacent electrolysis cells is equipped with one inter-cell current collecting bus-bar, one auxiliary cathode bus-bar and one auxiliary anode bus-bar.

11 . Method according to claim 9 wherein said step of putting said inter-cell current collecting bus-bar in abutment with said replacement base element is carried out by aid of guides.

12 . Device for continuously monitoring current distribution according to claim 2 , wherein said insulating material of said at least one base element is made of fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP).

13 . Device according to claim 2 wherein said probes for detecting an electrical voltage and establishing electrical contacts are cables or wires.

14 . Device according to claim 2 wherein said at least one base element comprises either rubber seals or springs lined with plastic fabric in correspondence of retractable tips.

15 . Electrolyser comprising a multiplicity of cells for metal electrodeposition, said cells being mutually connected in electrical series by means of a device according to claim 2 .

16 . System for continuously monitoring current distribution in cathodes and anodes of an electrolyser having a multiplicity of cells for metal electrodeposition each equipped with a multiplicity of said cathodes and anodes, the system comprising:
a device according to claim 2 ; analogue or digital computational means for obtaining current intensity values in each individual cathode and each anode starting from the electrical potential values detected by said probes; an alert device;

Assignees

• Industrie De Nora Spa

Inventors

• Prado Felix

Classifications

• C25C7/00

  Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells; Servicing or operating of cells (for the production of aluminium C25C3/06 - C25C3/22) · CPC title

• C25C7/02

  Electrodes (consumable anodes for the refining the metals C25C1/00 - C25C5/00); Connections thereof · CPC title

• C25C1/12

  of copper · CPC title

• C25C7/06 Primary

  Operating or servicing · CPC title

• C25C3/16

  Electric current supply devices, e.g. bus bars · CPC title