Electrolyte Aeration Systems
It is efficiently installed in existing cells in electrowinning tankhouses, during cell overflow stops, without loss of production
A cross-linked structure that produces the gentle aeration of the electrolyte circulating in the electrolytic cell during electrowinning, by means of the introduction of pressurized external air.
This process uniformizes convection, allowing the current density to increase and thus improve the quality of the copper deposit in the cathodes.
Decreases the local concentration of copper in the cathodes, improving process productivity and the quality of copper plates.
Improving productivity and quality of copper
By equipping electrowinning cells with the ANCOR TECMIN’s aeration system, an improvement in productivity and quality of copper is achieved, which is confirmed by the users of this system.
Decreases the local concentration of copper in the cathodes, improving process productivity and the quality of copper plates.
ANCOR TECMIN, for almost a decade, has been experimenting with different devices for electrolyte aeration. The system with air’s micro-bubbles at low pressure has improved over the years and today there are over a thousand copper electrowinning cells operating with these systems in the world.
This system is adapted to be able to be efficiently installed in the existing cells in electrowinning tankhouses. For this purpose, the key is an autonomous system of support that is easily adapted to the peculiarities of each cell and allows for installation during stops for cell waste removal, without loss of production.
STRUCTURE AND OPERATION
• The heart of the system is a reticulated, self-supporting and one-piece structure molded into anticorrosive polymeric composite materials, which is accurately positioned in a horizontal plane under the electrodes, matching the cell plant.
• The perimeter of the structure encapsulates a tubular ring for isobaric distribution of external air for agitation at low pressure, which is connected to porous diffusing elements, passing longitudinally through the cell.
• Predetermined low-pressure airflows emerge to the electrolyte in the plane of the structure under the electrodes through diffusers, forming micro-bubbles of controlled diameters in uniform and stable curtains or thermo-perforated hoses, forming random clouds of micro-bubbles of small diameters.
• In turn, the power system of the cell is located below the micro-bubble generating system, and the electrolyte is discharged through pressurized jets directed to the inter electrode spaces from holes intentionally drilled to match the flows.
• The flow is designed ascending through the inter electrode spaces and in order to be fluidized by the air micro-bubbles, so that convection sweeps surfaces of the electrodes, reducing their external layers and thereby increasing the productivity of the electrowinning.
Users of ANCOR TECMIN’s systems of electrolyte aeration confirm that these increase the quality of copper and the economic profitability of the electrowinning tank houses, through:
• The possibility of increasing the current density in existing plants while maintaining or improving the quality of the copper deposit and improving current efficiency.
• The possibility of obtaining high quality cathodes from electrolytes of lower-grade copper, potentially reducing bottlenecks of the SX plants.
• Installation and commissioning of the system in existing cells with no lost production time, taking advantage of scheduled sludge removals.
• Potential reduction of acid mist when, through the aeration, fine aerosol formation in the “explosions” of the oxygen bubbles from the surface of agitated electrolyte is mitigated.
• Minimum consumption of low-pressure air and inexpensive diffusing hoses.
• Simple controls for easy adjustment of airflow and aeration level regarding electrolyte flow and other operating parameters of the plant.
