Safe anode for electrochemical cells

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019048485-A1
Application number	US-201716076559-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 26, 2017
Priority date	Apr 29, 2016
Publication date	Feb 14, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

Safe anode for electrochemical cells, of the type of vertical anodes constituted of a hanging structure based on a first horizontal bar, second vertical distribution bars defined by a copper or aluminum core with a titanium exterior layer, and coated or uncoated titanium anode plates attached to the second distribution bars, on both sides, such that the safe anode incorporates an adapter element that comprises, at least, one current limiter assembly, arranged between, at least, one of the second vertical distribution bars, and, at least, one coated or uncoated titanium anode plate, connecting the vertical distribution bar to the coated or uncoated titanium anode plate.

First claim

1 . An anode for electrochemical cells, of the type of vertical anodes provided with a hanging structure having:
a horizontal current supply conductor bar and; one or more vertical distribution bars connected to the current supply bar, the distribution bars comprising:
a core of a conductive element selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminum, lead and alloy thereof, and
an outer layer or skin of a material selected from the group consisting of titanium or alloys thereof, valve metals or alloys thereof, and lead or alloys thereof, and;
at least one coated or uncoated titanium anode plate associated with the vertical distribution bars,
wherein the anode incorporates an adapter element arranged between at least one of the vertical distribution bars and at least one of the coated or uncoated titanium anode plates, the adapter element comprising at least one current limiter assembly having a current limiter, said current limiter assembly being associated with the at least one vertical distribution bar and the at least one coated or uncoated titanium anode plate in such a way that connects the vertical distribution bar to the coated or uncoated titanium anode plate.

2 . The anode for electrochemical cells according to claim 1 , wherein the adapter element is attached to the vertical distribution bar and to the titanium-coated anode plate.

3 . The anode for electrochemical cells according to claim 1 , wherein
the adapter element of the anode comprises a titanium strip that holds the at least one current limiter assembly, in such a way that the titanium strip is attached to the vertical distribution bar and the current limiter assembly is attached to the corresponding coated or uncoated titanium anode plate.

4 . The anode for electrochemical cells according to claim 1 , wherein the adapter element of the anode comprises a titanium strip having two ends that hold two current limiter assemblies, one at each end, in such a way that the titanium strip is attached to the vertical distribution bar and the pair of current limiter assemblies is attached to the corresponding coated or uncoated titanium anode plate.

5 . The anode for electrochemical cells according to claim 1 , wherein the adapter element of the anode is attached to the vertical distribution bar defining a slight angle with respect to the vertical plane of the bar, in such a way that the coated or uncoated titanium anode plate attached to the current limiter assembly also has the same angle.

6 . The anode for electrochemical cells, according to claim 5 , wherein the anode comprises more than one adapter element, each adapter element being attached to the vertical distribution bar defining a slight angle with respect to the vertical plane of the bar which has a different magnitude from the other angles, in such a way that the anode plates associated with the current limiter assemblies also have the same angles.

7 . The anode for electrochemical cells according to claim 5 , wherein the angle is equal or less than 3.25 degrees with respect to the vertical plane of the bar.

8 . The anode for electrochemical cells, according to claim 6 , wherein the magnitude of the angles defined by the adapter elements with respect to the vertical plane of the bar increases from the bottom to the top along the length of the vertical distribution bar.

9 . The anode for electrochemical cells according to claim 3 , wherein the titanium strip has a tubular configuration, incorporating the current limiter in its central internal portion associated with at least one sheet bent at right angles that extends to the outside of the corresponding anode plate to which the sheet is attached.

10 . The anode for electrochemical cells according to claim 3 , wherein the current limiter of the adapter element is embedded in a block of epoxy resin or a similar material interposed on the titanium strip.

11 . The anode for electrochemical cells according to claim 1 , wherein the current limiter assembly comprises a box having an insulating material that houses the titanium strip, the insulating material incorporating two current limiters connected to the titanium strip by a terminal and to the box by another terminal.

12 . The anode for electrochemical cells according to claim 1 , wherein the current limiter assembly comprises a pair of bimetallic titanium/copper pieces, with the copper surfaces facing each other, with a current limiter interposed between them, constituted of a polymer layer and respective layers of copper on both sides, with a transversal central and perimeter depression corresponding to the width of the copper of both opposing bimetallic pieces, said depression being filled with epoxy resin or a similar insulator.

13 . The anode for electrochemical cells according to claim 11 , wherein the current limiter assembly comprises at least an external border that is a box containing an insulating material and at least one internal border that is a titanium strip, said at least one internal border being partially or completely housed within said at least one external border, said at least one external border and at least one internal border having a U-shaped profile, in such a way that the at least one internal border is attached and partially enfolds a portion of at least one of said one or more vertical distribution bars and said at least one external border being associated or attached to at least one anode plate.

14 . An electrochemical cell for electrowinning of metals wherein it comprises at least one anode as defined in claim 1 .

15 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the metal is a non-ferrous metal.

Assignees

• Industrie De Nora Spa

Inventors

• Prado Pueo Felix

Classifications

• C25B15/06

  Detection or inhibition of short circuits in the cell · CPC title

• C25C7/00 Primary

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

• C25B11/02

  characterised by shape or form · CPC title

• C25C7/02 Primary

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

• C25D17/10

  Electrodes {, e.g. composition, counter electrode} · CPC title