System and apparatus for enhancing convection in electrolytes to achieve improved electrodeposition of copper and other non ferrous metals in industrial electrolytic cells

Abstract

A system and apparatus for enhancing convection in electrolytes for improved electrodeposition of copper and other non ferrous metals in industrial electrolytic cells at given a current density providing exact geometric locations of the electrolyte jet infeed supply system used to impart forced convection in the electrolyte, the gas bubbling system for low pressure/low volume convection enhancement, and the electrode bottom and lateral distancing system, and range of operational parameters, for correct electrolyte flow and air bubbling flow improving cell productivity, quality of metal plates with increased electrical efficiency for its industrial application. The system and apparatus can also be used in industrial cells with same optimal results but at increased current densities, provided sufficient suitable electrolyte and additional electric power is available.

1 . A system for electrodeposition of non ferrous metals comprising
 an operating electrolytic industrial cell with appropriate cathodes and anodes, and a given flow of an electrolyte composition and current density;   a leveled and aligned horizontal support structure or individual supports correctly installed inside the cell in favorable position relative to the electrodes;   a means of electrolyte infeed, where the means of electrolyte infeed allows discharge of the electrolyte relative to the electrodes and is aligned and leveled from the leveled and aligned horizontal support structure or individual supports;   a means of enhancing convection, where the means of enhancing convection is supported from the leveled and aligned horizontal support structure or individual supports; and   a means of positively distancing electrodes, where the means positively distancing electrodes is supported from the leveled and aligned horizontal support structure or individual supports.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein leveled and aligned horizontal support structure or individual supports comprises dielectric structural polymer composite materials. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the leveled and aligned horizontal support structure or individual supports comprise a means of vertical height adjustment. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the leveled and aligned horizontal support structure or individual supports comprises a means of horizontal lateral adjustment. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the means of electrolyte infeed comprises electrolyte feed pipes. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the electrolyte feed pipes are twin manifolds with perforated parallel PVC or CPVC pipes. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the electrolyte feed pipes comprise a plurality of orifices to jet electrolyte streams at given angles into each interelectrode space. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the means of enhancing convection is a continuous hermetic isobaric structurally self supporting loop, where the continuous hermetic isobaric loop comprises gas diffuser elements and gas hermetic connectors. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the means of positively distancing electrodes horizontally comprises structural shapes under the electrodes. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the means of positively distancing electrodes at their given distances horizontally further comprises distancing pyramids, where the distance pyramids are held at precise positions by the solid channel structural shapes. 
   
   
       11 . A method of electrodeposition of non ferrous metals comprising the steps of
 obtaining an industrial electrolytic cell with vertically intercalated planar electrodes and appropriate infeed of electrolyte of given composition operated at a given current density   locating individual supports or a support structure precisely inside the cell, a means of electrolyte infeed, a means of enhancing convention, and a means of positively distancing electrodes horizontally and/or vertically,   supporting the means of electrolyte infeed, the means of enhancing convention, and the means of positively distancing electrodes at correct locations relative to each other by individual supports or a support structure,   using at least the means of electrolyte infeed and the means of enhancing convention, and also the means of positively distancing electrodes, all concatenated to achieve desired quality deposit of non ferrous metals on cathode plate electrodes.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the quality deposit of non ferrous metals is an electrowinning process. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the quality deposit of non ferrous metals is an electrorefining process. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the means of enhancing convection is comprised of a continuous gas hermetic isobaric loop, where the continuous hermetic isobaric loop comprises gas hermetic connectors and diffuser elements. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the continuous hermetic isobaric structure receives external gases at low pressure and distributes the gases uniformly to chosen diffusers to generate bubbles of appropriate size, density and appropriate diffusion patterns that enhance convection and improve the quality of deposition of non ferrous metals and improve process productivity. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the external gases are at a pressure of under 1000 Nmbar. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , where the cathode plate electrodes have a plating surface, wherein the specific flow of electrolyte is between approximately 0.10 and 0.20 cubic meter/hour/square meter of cathodic plating surface in each electrolytic cell. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the bubbles are less than 4 mm in diameter generated by diffusers able to diffuse up to 120 It/min/cell of air flow at maximum 1000 Nmbar pressure. 
   
   
       19 . An apparatus for electrodeposition of non ferrous metals comprising
 an industrial electrolytic cell with vertically intercalated electrodes, given flow of appropriate electrolyte of given composition operated at a given current density,   a support structure, electrolyte feed pipes, a reticulated gas diffusing structure, and solid horizontal channels;   where the electrolyte feed pipes are twin manifolds with perforated parallel PVC or CPVC pipes, where the reticulated structure is hermetically assembled to form a continuous hermetic isobaric rectangular loop, where the solid horizontal channels support anodes and cathodes, and where the support structure supports the electrolyte feed pipes, the reticulated structure, and the solid horizontal channels.   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the continuous hermetic isobaric rectangular loop comprises gas hermetic connectors and diffuser elements.