System for evaluation of current distribution in electrodes of electrochemical plants

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9957628-B2
Application number	US-201414893283-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2014
Priority date	Jun 17, 2013
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for direct detection of current supplied to the electrodes of electrolytic cells, particularly useful in non-ferrous metal electrowinning or electrorefining plants. The current distribution on a practically unlimited number of electrodes can be obtained through direct measurement on the electrode hanging bars without requiring the manual intervention of plant staff.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for evaluation of current distribution in cathodes and anodes of a metal electrodeposition plant, the system comprising:
at least one electrolysis cell containing an electrolyte;
a current bus-bar associated with said at least one electrolysis cell;
a balance secondary bus-bar;
a multiplicity of cathodes and anodes surmounted by cathodic and anodic hanger bars of homogeneous resistivity and regular geometry in electrical contact therewith, said hanger bars having a first terminal part abutting said current bus-bar and a second terminal part abutting said balance secondary bus bar, said hanger bars being suitable for holding the corresponding cathodes and anodes in position inside said at least one electrolysis cell;

wherein said cathodic and anodic hanger bars are equipped with at least one electrical probe connected with at least four contact detection points located on said cathodic and anodic hanger bars in the regions delimited by the electrical connections with the current and balance secondary bus-bar respectively and the first electrical connection with the corresponding cathode or anode.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said cathodic and anodic hanger bars are equipped with at least one microcircuit having a microprocessor connected therewith, said microcircuit electrically connected with said contact detection points.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein said at least one microcircuit is equipped with a radio transmitter.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein said contact detection points are connected to a temperature sensor device.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein said cathodic and anodic hanger bars are equipped with at least one microcircuit having said microprocessor integrated therewith.

6. The system according to claim 5 wherein said microcircuit having said microprocessor integrated therewith, said contacts detection points of the hanger bars, said radio transmitter and said temperature sensor device are protected from the surrounding chemical environment by means of chemically resistant resins.

7. A method for evaluating current distribution in cathodes and anodes of a metal electrodeposition plant, said cathodes and anodes being surmounted by corresponding hanger bars, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
equipping said hanger bars with at least one electrical probe by electrically connecting it with at least four contact detection points located on said cathodic and anodic hanger bars in the regions delimited by the electrical connections with a current bus-bar and a balance secondary bus-bar, respectively and the first electrical connection with the corresponding cathode or anode;
calibrating the resistances of the cathodic and anodic hanger bars;
transmitting current measurements to a central computer by means of cables or radio transmitter;
elaborating data through said central computer;
actuating an alert system connected to said central computer in the event of predefined anomalies;
actuating optional means for disconnecting electrodes presenting anomalies.

8. Cathodic or anodic hanger bar for electrodeposition applications having homogeneous resistivity and regular geometry and having at least one microcircuit provided with a microprocessor connected therewith, said microcircuit being connected with at least four detection points located in the regions delimited by the electrical connections with a current bus-bar and a balance secondary bus-bar respectively and the first electrical connection with a corresponding cathode or anode, said microcircuit having an internal resistive circuit.

9. A method for evaluating current distribution in cathodes and anodes of a metal electrodeposition plant, said cathodes and anodes being surmounted by corresponding hanger bars, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
applying a microcircuit having a microprocessor integrated therewith on each cathodic and anodic hanger bar by electrically connecting it to at least four contact detection points located on each of the cathodic and anodic hanger bars in the regions delimited by the electrical connections with a current bus-bar and a balance secondary bus-bar respectively and the first electrical connection with the corresponding cathode or anode;
calibrating the resistances of the cathodic and anodic hanger bars;
transmitting current measurements to a central computer by means of cables or radio transmitter;
elaborating data through said central computer;
actuating an alert system connected to said central computer in the event of predefined anomalies;
actuating optional means for disconnecting electrodes presenting anomalies.

Assignees

• Industrie De Nora Spa

Inventors

• Prado Pueo Felix

Classifications

• C25C7/06 Primary

  Operating or servicing · CPC title

• C25C1/12

  of copper · CPC title

• C25C7/02

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