CA1054090A - Electrolyzer for producing metals - Google Patents
Electrolyzer for producing metalsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1054090A CA1054090A CA224,570A CA224570A CA1054090A CA 1054090 A CA1054090 A CA 1054090A CA 224570 A CA224570 A CA 224570A CA 1054090 A CA1054090 A CA 1054090A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- metal
- refined
- tank
- electrolyzer
- cathode
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P10/00—Technologies related to metal processing
- Y02P10/20—Recycling
Landscapes
- Electrolytic Production Of Metals (AREA)
Abstract
An Electrolyzer for Producing and Refining Metals Abstract of the Disclosure An electrolyzer has an electrolyte tank wherein are accommo-dated a cathode of the refined metal and an anode of the metal being refined located equidistant from said cathode over shelves of a box-type cross-section arranged in stepped relationship, the shelves being mounted with a clearance relative to the tank inner surface. To circulate the metal there is a pump feeding the metal being refined from a metal collector situated in the tank bottom to the top shelf wherefrom the metal flows by gravity over the shelves located therebeneath back into the metal collec-tor. During the circulation of the metal being refined in the electrolyte it dissolves electrochemically and the refined metal deposit is formed on the cathode.
Description
~ s~
The present invention relates to the art of electro-metallurgy and more particularly to electrolyzers for producing and refining metals.
Well known in the art is the electrolyzer for pro-ducing and refining gallium or mercury, or zinc, or bismuth, or lead, or cadmium, or indium from their liquid alloys com-prising an electrolyte tank and accommodated therein receiving means for a metal ~eing refined these being in the form of shelves arranged in stepped relationship whereupon the metal `
being refined and used as an anode is disposed, a cathode of a refined metal positioned equidistant from the anode, leads for the anode and the cathode and a pump to circulate the metal being refined (See, for instance, ~'Amalgam metallurgy`' L.F. Kozin, Technik~, 1970, p. 1~2-188).
In this well known electrolyzer the metal being re-fined and used as an anode is placed over grooved shelves mounted at a slope on the electrolyzer walls. Between the shelves are provided connecting ducts whose upper portion ex-tends into the bottom of an above located shelf, and the metal ~ -20 overflows therethrough from shelf to shelf. From the lower ; ~
shelf, the metal flows down into a metal collector wherefrom it ` ~ -` is fed by a pump to the upper shelf. The shelves carrying the anodic and the cathodic metal are located parallel and opposite each other.
The mounting the shelves filled with metal directly on the electrolyzer tank walls and the presence of the metal ~ at the tank bottom result in continuous contact of the anodic -~ and cathodic metals therewith which causes non-uniform heating ;
of the tank walls and bottom, distortion of the tank and loss 30 of sealing. In addition, the larger the current, the higher - ~;
~` is heating of the tank walls and bottom and the more marked ~ ;
.:
become the above adverse effects.
-- 1 -- .
~,~,, .
, .
~5~
These conditlons impose cer-tain limitations on the current increase in the eleckrolyzer and consequently, on the improvement of the latter productivity.
The well ]cnown electrolyzer is capable of operating only with continuous pumpiny of the metal since should the ~ , ' pump stop all the metal would flow away from the shelves which will lead to ceasing of the electrolysis process.
Moreover, in the well known electrolyzer the anodic metal, in the process of its circulation, can not be cleanèd 10 from electrolytic sludge since the openings of the connecting ~ -ducts are arranged in the bottom of each shelf whereas the -~
sludge covers the metal surface. This leads to decreasing of the anodic metal surface activity and cutting down the electroly-zer output.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electrolyzer for producing and refining metals which ' while having the same volume of the tank and allowing high , quality metal to be produced and refined will yield higher output.
- The above-mentioned and other objects of the invention ; 20 are attained by providing an electrolyzer for producing and refining gallium either mercury or zinc or bismuth or lead or cadmium or indium from their liquid alloys which electrolyzer comprises on electrolyte tank accommodating receiving means ;
for the metal being refined in the form of shelves arranged in -` stepped relationship whereupon is disposed the metal being re-fined which is used as an anode, a cathode or refined metal, ' current leads for the anode and the cathode as well as a pump to circulate the metal being refined. According to the invention the shelves of the receiving means are of a box-type cross-section and located horizontally around the cathode with ; a clearance with respect to the tank inner surface.
In one a,spect of the invention there is provided '`' ':
~- ' . ', .' ' , '' ' '., ~ :
` ~)S~9~
an electrolyzer for producing and refining a metal from its liquid alloy, comprising: an electrolyte tank closed by covers, ~`
a cathode made of a refined metal and having a current lead;
a device for holding said cathode in said tank, means for re-ceiving the metal being refined, independent from said tank, and being in the form of a plurality of shelves arranged in a stepped relationship, having a box~shaped cross-section and being in-stalled horizontally about said cathode and with a clearance relative to the inner surface of said tank, an anode made of the metal being refined, disposed over said shelves about said cathode, and a pump to feed the metal being refined from the bottom of said tank to a top shelf of said receiving means' wherein the metal being refined is fed by said pump onto said top shelf, and on flowing by gravity down over said shelves, the ~ ~ -metal is dissolved electrochemically in the electrolyte of ;
said tank and is deposi~ed on said cathode as the refined metal.
It is preferable that each shelf of the receivingmeans for the metal being refined be made with an overflow lip to enable the metal flow to be directed during overflowing and the sludge to be removed from the metal surface, thereby im-proving the activity thereof.
It is also preferable to install in the tank a water-cooled diaphragm separating the anode from the cathode which, besides providing protection to the cathodic chamber from pene-trating impurities thereinto will permit to control the electro-lyte temperature.
It is also preferable that the cathode of the refiined metal be placed in a tubular container formed by a cloth filter fastened to a water-cooled frame which will make it possible to considerably reduce voltage in the electrolyzer and consequently, at the same power rating of the supply source, to increase i~
current thereby rising the electrolyzer productivity.
` _ 3 _ . ....
~, .. ,. . , ~., , . ,,, . ~;
~054~
~ s a re~ult of the present invention, an electrolyzer is provided allowing, as compared to existing electrolyzers of the same type, to increase productivity several times while producing high quality refined metal.
The invention will be hereinafter described taking by way oE example an embodiment thereof and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is an electrolyzer for producing and refining metals made in accordance with the invention (a longitudinal section);
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same, ~;~
Fig. 3 is an '`A" assembly of the Fig. 1, a lower portion of the anodic lead, Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the electro-lyzer for producing and refining metals made in accordance with the invention wherein plates of refined metal are used as a cathode.
The electrolyzer for refining gallium and mercury shown in Figs. 1-3 comprises an electrolyte tank l with covers ;;
which accommQdates a tubular container 2 for the refined metal being a cathode, with leads, receiving means 3 for the metal - ~
being refined and used as an anode made of a plurality of box ~-cross-section shelves with leads, a diaphragm 4 dividing the tank into anodic and cathodic chambers, a device 5 for circulat-ing of the metal being refined fitted with a pump, metal ducts and a three-way cock, a heat exchanger 6 for heating the electro-lyte manufactured of polyethylene tubes and situated near the ;~
` tank bottom.
; The electrolyzer tank 1 is made in organic glass.
For the electrolyte discharge, the tank is provided for a valve 7. The tank is closed with covers 8, 9 made of organic glass. ~ ' In the cover 9 an "a" port is provided for pouring an electro-:'" ;
...... .
,, ~ , . . - . , ~ , . . . .
, ~ . . .
.
~5~
lyte 10 and metal 11 being refined into the tank.
The tubular container 2 with the refined metal ~unc- -tioning as the cathode is fixed in the electrolyzer cover 8.
The container has a water-cooled frame 13 consisting of a hori-zontal tube 14 and a verti~al hollow bar 15. In the horizontal tube 14 there are "b`' ports so arranged as to give maximum access to its interior. The horizontal tube of the frame is wrapped over by filter cloth 16 thus forming a container for refined cathodic metal 12. In the upper portion of the bar 15 are pro-vided "cl' ports for exhausting ca-thodic gases from the container
The present invention relates to the art of electro-metallurgy and more particularly to electrolyzers for producing and refining metals.
Well known in the art is the electrolyzer for pro-ducing and refining gallium or mercury, or zinc, or bismuth, or lead, or cadmium, or indium from their liquid alloys com-prising an electrolyte tank and accommodated therein receiving means for a metal ~eing refined these being in the form of shelves arranged in stepped relationship whereupon the metal `
being refined and used as an anode is disposed, a cathode of a refined metal positioned equidistant from the anode, leads for the anode and the cathode and a pump to circulate the metal being refined (See, for instance, ~'Amalgam metallurgy`' L.F. Kozin, Technik~, 1970, p. 1~2-188).
In this well known electrolyzer the metal being re-fined and used as an anode is placed over grooved shelves mounted at a slope on the electrolyzer walls. Between the shelves are provided connecting ducts whose upper portion ex-tends into the bottom of an above located shelf, and the metal ~ -20 overflows therethrough from shelf to shelf. From the lower ; ~
shelf, the metal flows down into a metal collector wherefrom it ` ~ -` is fed by a pump to the upper shelf. The shelves carrying the anodic and the cathodic metal are located parallel and opposite each other.
The mounting the shelves filled with metal directly on the electrolyzer tank walls and the presence of the metal ~ at the tank bottom result in continuous contact of the anodic -~ and cathodic metals therewith which causes non-uniform heating ;
of the tank walls and bottom, distortion of the tank and loss 30 of sealing. In addition, the larger the current, the higher - ~;
~` is heating of the tank walls and bottom and the more marked ~ ;
.:
become the above adverse effects.
-- 1 -- .
~,~,, .
, .
~5~
These conditlons impose cer-tain limitations on the current increase in the eleckrolyzer and consequently, on the improvement of the latter productivity.
The well ]cnown electrolyzer is capable of operating only with continuous pumpiny of the metal since should the ~ , ' pump stop all the metal would flow away from the shelves which will lead to ceasing of the electrolysis process.
Moreover, in the well known electrolyzer the anodic metal, in the process of its circulation, can not be cleanèd 10 from electrolytic sludge since the openings of the connecting ~ -ducts are arranged in the bottom of each shelf whereas the -~
sludge covers the metal surface. This leads to decreasing of the anodic metal surface activity and cutting down the electroly-zer output.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electrolyzer for producing and refining metals which ' while having the same volume of the tank and allowing high , quality metal to be produced and refined will yield higher output.
- The above-mentioned and other objects of the invention ; 20 are attained by providing an electrolyzer for producing and refining gallium either mercury or zinc or bismuth or lead or cadmium or indium from their liquid alloys which electrolyzer comprises on electrolyte tank accommodating receiving means ;
for the metal being refined in the form of shelves arranged in -` stepped relationship whereupon is disposed the metal being re-fined which is used as an anode, a cathode or refined metal, ' current leads for the anode and the cathode as well as a pump to circulate the metal being refined. According to the invention the shelves of the receiving means are of a box-type cross-section and located horizontally around the cathode with ; a clearance with respect to the tank inner surface.
In one a,spect of the invention there is provided '`' ':
~- ' . ', .' ' , '' ' '., ~ :
` ~)S~9~
an electrolyzer for producing and refining a metal from its liquid alloy, comprising: an electrolyte tank closed by covers, ~`
a cathode made of a refined metal and having a current lead;
a device for holding said cathode in said tank, means for re-ceiving the metal being refined, independent from said tank, and being in the form of a plurality of shelves arranged in a stepped relationship, having a box~shaped cross-section and being in-stalled horizontally about said cathode and with a clearance relative to the inner surface of said tank, an anode made of the metal being refined, disposed over said shelves about said cathode, and a pump to feed the metal being refined from the bottom of said tank to a top shelf of said receiving means' wherein the metal being refined is fed by said pump onto said top shelf, and on flowing by gravity down over said shelves, the ~ ~ -metal is dissolved electrochemically in the electrolyte of ;
said tank and is deposi~ed on said cathode as the refined metal.
It is preferable that each shelf of the receivingmeans for the metal being refined be made with an overflow lip to enable the metal flow to be directed during overflowing and the sludge to be removed from the metal surface, thereby im-proving the activity thereof.
It is also preferable to install in the tank a water-cooled diaphragm separating the anode from the cathode which, besides providing protection to the cathodic chamber from pene-trating impurities thereinto will permit to control the electro-lyte temperature.
It is also preferable that the cathode of the refiined metal be placed in a tubular container formed by a cloth filter fastened to a water-cooled frame which will make it possible to considerably reduce voltage in the electrolyzer and consequently, at the same power rating of the supply source, to increase i~
current thereby rising the electrolyzer productivity.
` _ 3 _ . ....
~, .. ,. . , ~., , . ,,, . ~;
~054~
~ s a re~ult of the present invention, an electrolyzer is provided allowing, as compared to existing electrolyzers of the same type, to increase productivity several times while producing high quality refined metal.
The invention will be hereinafter described taking by way oE example an embodiment thereof and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is an electrolyzer for producing and refining metals made in accordance with the invention (a longitudinal section);
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same, ~;~
Fig. 3 is an '`A" assembly of the Fig. 1, a lower portion of the anodic lead, Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the electro-lyzer for producing and refining metals made in accordance with the invention wherein plates of refined metal are used as a cathode.
The electrolyzer for refining gallium and mercury shown in Figs. 1-3 comprises an electrolyte tank l with covers ;;
which accommQdates a tubular container 2 for the refined metal being a cathode, with leads, receiving means 3 for the metal - ~
being refined and used as an anode made of a plurality of box ~-cross-section shelves with leads, a diaphragm 4 dividing the tank into anodic and cathodic chambers, a device 5 for circulat-ing of the metal being refined fitted with a pump, metal ducts and a three-way cock, a heat exchanger 6 for heating the electro-lyte manufactured of polyethylene tubes and situated near the ;~
` tank bottom.
; The electrolyzer tank 1 is made in organic glass.
For the electrolyte discharge, the tank is provided for a valve 7. The tank is closed with covers 8, 9 made of organic glass. ~ ' In the cover 9 an "a" port is provided for pouring an electro-:'" ;
...... .
,, ~ , . . - . , ~ , . . . .
, ~ . . .
.
~5~
lyte 10 and metal 11 being refined into the tank.
The tubular container 2 with the refined metal ~unc- -tioning as the cathode is fixed in the electrolyzer cover 8.
The container has a water-cooled frame 13 consisting of a hori-zontal tube 14 and a verti~al hollow bar 15. In the horizontal tube 14 there are "b`' ports so arranged as to give maximum access to its interior. The horizontal tube of the frame is wrapped over by filter cloth 16 thus forming a container for refined cathodic metal 12. In the upper portion of the bar 15 are pro-vided "cl' ports for exhausting ca-thodic gases from the container
2.
Mounted in the bar 15 are cathodic leads 17 made of tungsten.
The receiving means 3 for the metal 11 being refined are provided in the form of a plurality of shelves 18 arranged in stepped relationship whereupon at an equal distance from the cathode is placed the metal being refined functioning as the anode.
The shelves 18 are of a box cross-section and dis~
20 posed horizontally with a "d`' clearance relative to the tank ~`
- inner surface. Each shelf has in its wall 19 an overflow lip 20 for directing the metal over the shelf located therebeneath.
From the lower shelf, the metal flows down to a metal collector 21.
On each shelf there is mounted an anodic lead 22 whose water-cooled conductor 23 is isolated from the electro~
lyte by a tube 24 of organic glass and a spacer 25 of fluoro- ;`~
plastic. Water inlet and outlet of the lead are shown by arrows in Fig. 2. Screwed on the tube 24 of the lead 22 over a thread 26 is a tip 27 made of fluoroplastic and having "e`' openings through which the metal 11 being refined is fed from the shelves 18 via "f'` ducts to a lower end 28 of the conductor ,, f~ :
23. The conductor lower end 28 has no insulation and is an active part of the lead.
The water-cooled diaphragm ~ dividing the electro-lyzer tank 1 into the cathodic chamber `'g`' and the anodic one "h" serves to protect the electrolyte 10 of the cathodic chamber from getting impurities thereinto and to control the electrolyte temperature.
The diaphragm 4 is made of filter cloth 29 fastened onto a water-cooled frame 30 and is mounted on brackets 31.
On the lower shelf of the receiving means 3 is in-stalled a pump 32 of the device 5 for pumping the metal being refined over the shelves 18 of the receiving means. The pump 32 with an electric drive 33 is secured to the cover 9 of the electrolyzer. Through metal ducts 34 and via a three-way cock 35 mounted on the top shelf 18 of the receiving means
Mounted in the bar 15 are cathodic leads 17 made of tungsten.
The receiving means 3 for the metal 11 being refined are provided in the form of a plurality of shelves 18 arranged in stepped relationship whereupon at an equal distance from the cathode is placed the metal being refined functioning as the anode.
The shelves 18 are of a box cross-section and dis~
20 posed horizontally with a "d`' clearance relative to the tank ~`
- inner surface. Each shelf has in its wall 19 an overflow lip 20 for directing the metal over the shelf located therebeneath.
From the lower shelf, the metal flows down to a metal collector 21.
On each shelf there is mounted an anodic lead 22 whose water-cooled conductor 23 is isolated from the electro~
lyte by a tube 24 of organic glass and a spacer 25 of fluoro- ;`~
plastic. Water inlet and outlet of the lead are shown by arrows in Fig. 2. Screwed on the tube 24 of the lead 22 over a thread 26 is a tip 27 made of fluoroplastic and having "e`' openings through which the metal 11 being refined is fed from the shelves 18 via "f'` ducts to a lower end 28 of the conductor ,, f~ :
23. The conductor lower end 28 has no insulation and is an active part of the lead.
The water-cooled diaphragm ~ dividing the electro-lyzer tank 1 into the cathodic chamber `'g`' and the anodic one "h" serves to protect the electrolyte 10 of the cathodic chamber from getting impurities thereinto and to control the electrolyte temperature.
The diaphragm 4 is made of filter cloth 29 fastened onto a water-cooled frame 30 and is mounted on brackets 31.
On the lower shelf of the receiving means 3 is in-stalled a pump 32 of the device 5 for pumping the metal being refined over the shelves 18 of the receiving means. The pump 32 with an electric drive 33 is secured to the cover 9 of the electrolyzer. Through metal ducts 34 and via a three-way cock 35 mounted on the top shelf 18 of the receiving means
3, the pump can feed the metal being refined from the meal collector 21 onto the top shelf 18 or into an outside system 36 of metal ducts to empty periodically the electrolyzer from the metal being refined and clean the latter from impurities accumulated therein.
Gases evoluting in the process of electrolysis are removed via an outlet pipe 37 in the tank cover 9 and ex hausted into a ventilation system 38.
The electrolyzer is equipped with automatic control means operated from a control pulpit (not shown) ensuring monitoring and control of a direct current value, the electro-lyte temperature and is also provided with an automatic control system for the pump circulating the metal heing refined.
The electrolyzer proposed for refining gallium and mercury operates as follows.
The tank 1 prepared for the electrolyæer operation is filled with the heated electrolyte 10 to a temperature from 20 to . . ~ . "
.
' 9~
25C. Via the heat exchanger 6, hot water (up to 80C) is supplied to reheat the electrolyte 10 to a temperature of ~0-50C. Through the '`a" port in the tank cover 9, the metal 11 being refined is poured onto the top shelf 18 of the receiv-in~ means 11 so that all the shelves 18 should be covered with the metal while some required portion of the metal should be in the pump 32 to circulate and distribute the me-tal over the shelves. The cathode container 2 is to be filled with an initial portion of the refined metal 12 used as a cathode to provide the cathodic metal surface required.
On the electrolyzer control pulpit, a program is set up to provide a given direct current value, the electrolyte circulation and keeping the electrolyte temperature within the technological parameters.
In the process of electrolysis dissolving of the metal being refined (the anode) and the deposition of the refined metal on the cathode take place. ;
Impurities, in the main, build up in sludge which is formed in the metal being refined on the shelves 18 of the re-ceiving means. The sludge covers the metal surface and passi-vates it thereby retarding the process of metal electrolysis.
Removing of the sludge from the metal surface is effected by ,~ . -~. . .
continuous or periodic circulating of the metal being refined -~
which is fed by means of the pump 32 onto the top shelf wherein the metal level rises, and the upper layer saturated with the sludge overflows via the lip 20 onto a shelf located therebeneath and so on. In this way, the surface of the metal disposed on the shelves becomes cleaned thus providing for improving the electrolyzer productivity. ~ ~
From the bottom shelf 18, the metal flows down into ~ `
the metal collector 21 wherein after some time the metal con-taminated with impurities is accumulated. ~his metal is period-,:, ;~!
.... .. . . . .. , . ... .. ~
....
~[35g~)9l~
ically removed from the electrolyzer by switching-over the three-way cock 35 into the external system 36 of metal ducts 3~ where it is rinsed and filtered, and the electrolyzer is filled up with fresh metal to be refined.
The electrolysis process is carried out continuously.
The reEined metal accumulated in the cathode container 2 is periodically extracted by a vacuum intake device.
In case of the electroly~er long-run performance, sludge builds up around the lower end 28 of the anodic leads 22 which results in increased contact resistance in the anodic leads and breakdowns in the electrolyzer operation.
~o recover the e~ficiency of the anodic leads they are to be one by one withdrawn from the electrolyzer together with the metal accommodated inside the tips 27. This metal is drained and passed to a filtering unit whereas the leads after being washed are again mounted in the electrolyzer. It is expedient to perform this procedure during tha continuous cir-culation of the metal being refined so that the metal on the shelves be not de-energized.
A continuous operation of the electrolyzer can make it necessary to change the cloth filter 16 on the container 2 for which purpose with the current switched off, the cathodic leads 17 are withdrawn from the electrolyzer, the container 2 is removed from the tank together with the cover 8 and after the container has been washed its filter cloth is changed. In order to carry out this procedure in a short period of time it is preferable to have a stand-by container 2 with a cover 8. ;~
Upon the installation of a new container and mounting new cathodic leads in the electrolyzer and pouring some initial portion of metal into the container, the direct current is switched on again. ~ -When the electrolyzer is employed to produce or refine ~ ~,7`
s4 .
zinc or bismuth or lead or cadmium or indium from their molten alloys, cathodes in the form of plates 39 (Fig. 4) made of the refined metal are installed in the electrolyzer instead of .the container 2. ..
In the process of electrolysis the refined metal de-posits on the cathodes~ To obtain this metal, the cathodes are one by one withd:rawn from the electrolyzer and the deposited metal is stripped off.
In other respects the process for producing or refin-ing the above metals is similar to that for producing or re-fining gallium or mercury.
Commercial trials of the proposed electrolyzer have shown that with the high quality of the metal produced or re-fined in this electrolyzer the productivity thereof is from 2.5 to 3 times higher than that of electrolyzers operated at present in the industry and having the same tank volume.
. ',., ~ ' . ' ''-: ~
. ' .
., .
.'` ~ ', --.~ .
:'i :. _ 9 _
Gases evoluting in the process of electrolysis are removed via an outlet pipe 37 in the tank cover 9 and ex hausted into a ventilation system 38.
The electrolyzer is equipped with automatic control means operated from a control pulpit (not shown) ensuring monitoring and control of a direct current value, the electro-lyte temperature and is also provided with an automatic control system for the pump circulating the metal heing refined.
The electrolyzer proposed for refining gallium and mercury operates as follows.
The tank 1 prepared for the electrolyæer operation is filled with the heated electrolyte 10 to a temperature from 20 to . . ~ . "
.
' 9~
25C. Via the heat exchanger 6, hot water (up to 80C) is supplied to reheat the electrolyte 10 to a temperature of ~0-50C. Through the '`a" port in the tank cover 9, the metal 11 being refined is poured onto the top shelf 18 of the receiv-in~ means 11 so that all the shelves 18 should be covered with the metal while some required portion of the metal should be in the pump 32 to circulate and distribute the me-tal over the shelves. The cathode container 2 is to be filled with an initial portion of the refined metal 12 used as a cathode to provide the cathodic metal surface required.
On the electrolyzer control pulpit, a program is set up to provide a given direct current value, the electrolyte circulation and keeping the electrolyte temperature within the technological parameters.
In the process of electrolysis dissolving of the metal being refined (the anode) and the deposition of the refined metal on the cathode take place. ;
Impurities, in the main, build up in sludge which is formed in the metal being refined on the shelves 18 of the re-ceiving means. The sludge covers the metal surface and passi-vates it thereby retarding the process of metal electrolysis.
Removing of the sludge from the metal surface is effected by ,~ . -~. . .
continuous or periodic circulating of the metal being refined -~
which is fed by means of the pump 32 onto the top shelf wherein the metal level rises, and the upper layer saturated with the sludge overflows via the lip 20 onto a shelf located therebeneath and so on. In this way, the surface of the metal disposed on the shelves becomes cleaned thus providing for improving the electrolyzer productivity. ~ ~
From the bottom shelf 18, the metal flows down into ~ `
the metal collector 21 wherein after some time the metal con-taminated with impurities is accumulated. ~his metal is period-,:, ;~!
.... .. . . . .. , . ... .. ~
....
~[35g~)9l~
ically removed from the electrolyzer by switching-over the three-way cock 35 into the external system 36 of metal ducts 3~ where it is rinsed and filtered, and the electrolyzer is filled up with fresh metal to be refined.
The electrolysis process is carried out continuously.
The reEined metal accumulated in the cathode container 2 is periodically extracted by a vacuum intake device.
In case of the electroly~er long-run performance, sludge builds up around the lower end 28 of the anodic leads 22 which results in increased contact resistance in the anodic leads and breakdowns in the electrolyzer operation.
~o recover the e~ficiency of the anodic leads they are to be one by one withdrawn from the electrolyzer together with the metal accommodated inside the tips 27. This metal is drained and passed to a filtering unit whereas the leads after being washed are again mounted in the electrolyzer. It is expedient to perform this procedure during tha continuous cir-culation of the metal being refined so that the metal on the shelves be not de-energized.
A continuous operation of the electrolyzer can make it necessary to change the cloth filter 16 on the container 2 for which purpose with the current switched off, the cathodic leads 17 are withdrawn from the electrolyzer, the container 2 is removed from the tank together with the cover 8 and after the container has been washed its filter cloth is changed. In order to carry out this procedure in a short period of time it is preferable to have a stand-by container 2 with a cover 8. ;~
Upon the installation of a new container and mounting new cathodic leads in the electrolyzer and pouring some initial portion of metal into the container, the direct current is switched on again. ~ -When the electrolyzer is employed to produce or refine ~ ~,7`
s4 .
zinc or bismuth or lead or cadmium or indium from their molten alloys, cathodes in the form of plates 39 (Fig. 4) made of the refined metal are installed in the electrolyzer instead of .the container 2. ..
In the process of electrolysis the refined metal de-posits on the cathodes~ To obtain this metal, the cathodes are one by one withd:rawn from the electrolyzer and the deposited metal is stripped off.
In other respects the process for producing or refin-ing the above metals is similar to that for producing or re-fining gallium or mercury.
Commercial trials of the proposed electrolyzer have shown that with the high quality of the metal produced or re-fined in this electrolyzer the productivity thereof is from 2.5 to 3 times higher than that of electrolyzers operated at present in the industry and having the same tank volume.
. ',., ~ ' . ' ''-: ~
. ' .
., .
.'` ~ ', --.~ .
:'i :. _ 9 _
Claims (4)
1. An electrolyzer for producing and refining a metal from its liquid alloy, comprising: an electrolyte tank closed by covers; a cathode made of a refined metal and having a current lead, a device for holding said cathode in said tank; means for receiving the metal being refined, independent from said tank, and being in the form of a plurality of shelves arranged in a stepped relationship, having a box-shaped cross-section and being installed horizontally about said cathode and with a clearance relative to the inner surface of said tank; an anode made of the metal being refined, disposed over said shelves about said cathode; and a pump to feed the metal being refined from the bottom of said tank to a top shelf of said receiving means; wherein the metal being refined is fed by said pump onto said top shelf, and on flowing by gravity down over said shelves, the metal is dissolved electrochemically in the electro-lyte of said tank and is deposited on said cathode as the refined metal.
2. The electrolyzer as defined in claim 1, wherein said shelves are provided with overflow lips.
3. The electrolyzer as defined in claim 1, further com-prosing a water-cooled diaphragm mounted for separating said anode from said cathode.
4. The electrolyzer as defined in claim 1, wherein said holding device is provided in the form of a tubular container secured to one of said covers of the tank, said container being formed by filter cloth attached to a water-cooled frame.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA224,570A CA1054090A (en) | 1975-04-11 | 1975-04-11 | Electrolyzer for producing metals |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA224,570A CA1054090A (en) | 1975-04-11 | 1975-04-11 | Electrolyzer for producing metals |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1054090A true CA1054090A (en) | 1979-05-08 |
Family
ID=4102815
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA224,570A Expired CA1054090A (en) | 1975-04-11 | 1975-04-11 | Electrolyzer for producing metals |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1054090A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN108996505A (en) * | 2018-09-21 | 2018-12-14 | 湖南金雕能源科技有限公司 | A kind of electrolytic cell of scrap hard alloy recovered WC |
-
1975
- 1975-04-11 CA CA224,570A patent/CA1054090A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN108996505A (en) * | 2018-09-21 | 2018-12-14 | 湖南金雕能源科技有限公司 | A kind of electrolytic cell of scrap hard alloy recovered WC |
| CN108996505B (en) * | 2018-09-21 | 2023-10-24 | 湖南金雕能源科技有限公司 | Electrolytic tank for recycling tungsten carbide from waste hard alloy |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| JPS6230274B2 (en) | ||
| JPS6117914B2 (en) | ||
| US4699704A (en) | Electrolytic cell for a molten salt | |
| CA2336685C (en) | Molten salt electrolytic cell having metal reservoir | |
| US4002550A (en) | Electrolyzer for producing and refining metals | |
| GB506590A (en) | Improvements in the electrolytic manufacture and production of zinc dust | |
| CA1054090A (en) | Electrolyzer for producing metals | |
| US3708415A (en) | Rapid action electrolytic cell | |
| US2629688A (en) | Electrolytic apparatus for production of magnesium | |
| CN106544700A (en) | A kind of electrolytic silver powder preparation system | |
| US4203819A (en) | Electrolytic cell with flow detection means | |
| JPH02285086A (en) | Electrolytic tank for continuous refining of silver | |
| JPS5817267B2 (en) | Method of extracting heat from a chamber containing a molten salt bath | |
| US5141616A (en) | Electrode for extracting metals from a metal ion solution | |
| CN210657162U (en) | Device for electrodepositing copper on waste micro-etching solution | |
| JP3193199B2 (en) | Electrolytic refining equipment | |
| US2843544A (en) | Apparatus for the continuous production of metallic beryllium | |
| CN215163220U (en) | A superfine silver powder production facility for silver electrolytic refining | |
| CN107761132A (en) | A kind of device and method for preparing cast metals | |
| US4133728A (en) | Electrolytic cell with switching means | |
| CN216864348U (en) | Copper electrolyte siphon device | |
| CN215544882U (en) | Coarse tin discharging pot | |
| JP2839401B2 (en) | Supply / drainage method in an electrolytic cell for metal electrolytic refining | |
| CN217230971U (en) | Electrolyte circulation system integrated device | |
| US759798A (en) | Electrolytic apparatus. |