Electrowinning system with interconnectable intercell bars

Abstract

Electrowinning system with interconnectable intercell bars, used in electro-deposition systems, featuring at least three cells connected to each other in series by means of a set of two or three bars: one central main bar and one or two lateral bars placed between each pair of consecutive cells. The main bar provides support and electrical connection to one end of all the cathode hangers of the preceding cell and to one end of all the anode hangers of the next cell. The system includes electrical switches capable of periodically creating an electrical bridge between said bars for a short period of time, causing a temporary reversal of current.

1 . An electrowinning system with interconnectable intercell bars, comprising:
 at least three cells connected in series between the positive ( 10 ) and negative ( 11 ) poles of a rectifier, each cell comprising a plurality of anodes ( 3 ) and cathodes ( 2 ) supported on their respective hangers, with the first cell connected to the positive pole of the rectifier,   a set of at least two electrical connection bars arranged parallel to each other between each cell and the next, comprising a main bar ( 1 ) and at least one side bar, which can be an upper side bar ( 4 ), a lower side bar ( 5 ), or both,   a plurality of high-current electrical switches ( 7 ), which can be remotely activated and deactivated via communication means, electrically connected between the main bar ( 1 ) and the side bar(s) ( 4 ,  5 ) and evenly distributed along the electrical connection bars ( 1 ,  4 ,  5 ), and   at least one control equipment ( 13 ) equipped with means of communication with the electrical switches ( 7 ),   each main bar ( 1 ) serving as both mechanical support and electrical connection for one end of all the cathode hangers ( 2 ) of the preceding cell in the series and also as a mechanical support and electrical connection for one end of the anode hangers ( 3 ) of the next cell.   each upper side bar ( 4 ), if any, serving as both a mechanical support and electrical connection of all the anodes ( 3 ) of the preceding cell, and   each lower side bar ( 5 ), if any, serving as both a mechanical support and electrical connection of all the cathodes ( 2 ) of the next cell.   
     
     
         2 . The electrowinning system with interconnectable intercell bars of  claim 1 , wherein an upper side bar ( 4 ) is located on the main bar ( 1 ). 
     
     
         3 . The electrowinning system with interconnectable intercell bars, wherein a lower side bar ( 5 ) is located under the main bar ( 1 ). 
     
     
         4 . The electrowinning system with interconnectable intercell bars of  claim 1 , comprising an upper side bar ( 4 ) and a lower side bar ( 5 ), wherein the main bar ( 1 ) is located between the upper side bar ( 4 ) and the lower side bar ( 5 ). 
     
     
         5 . The electrowinning system with interconnectable intercell bars of  claim 1 , wherein the means of communication between the control equipment ( 13 ) and the electrical switches ( 7 ) is wired or wireless. 
     
     
         6 . The electrowinning system with interconnectable intercell bars of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical switches ( 7 ) are associated with a printed circuit board equipped with a microcontroller with communication capacity by means of digital communication protocols with the control equipment ( 13 ). 
     
     
         7 . The electrowinning system with interconnectable intercell bars of  claim 1 , wherein the printed circuit boards associated with the electrical switches ( 7 ) have current sensors. 
     
     
         8 . The electrowinning system with interconnectable intercell bars of  claim 1 , wherein the first cell connected directly to the positive pole ( 10 ) and the last cell connected directly to the negative pole ( 11 ) are semi-sacrifice cells without current reversal. 
     
     
         9 . The electrowinning system with interconnectable intercell bars of  claim 1 , wherein the first cell directly connected to the positive pole ( 10 ) and the last cell directly connected to the negative pole ( 11 ) are power resistances having a resistive value similar to that of the cells. 
     
     
         10 . A method of reversing current of the electrowinning system with interconnectable intercell bars of  claim 1 , wherein
 E1 being the state wherein the electrical switches ( 7 ) associated with a cell are activated, and therefore in electrical conduction,   T1 being the configurable time in the control equipment wherein the electrical switches are in E1 state in each cycle,   E0 being the state wherein the electrical switches ( 7 ) associated with a cell are deactivated, and therefore without electrical conduction,   T0 being the configurable time in the control equipment wherein the electrical switches ( 7 ) are in E0 state in each cycle,   NC being the number of cells that make up the series circuit between the positive and negative poles,   NCP being the number of cells per package, calculated as NCP=(T0+T1)/T1, always rounding the decimals of T0 and T1 so that it results in an integer, and   i being the cell index in each package, which will start with i=1,   the following sequence is carried out simultaneously in each of the cell packages:   in a first step, the electrical switches ( 7 ) associated with cell i are set to the E1 state (closed), while the electrical switches associated with all other cells in the package remain in the E0 state (open),   in a second step, time T1 is allowed to elapse,   in a third step, the electrical switches ( 7 ) associated with cell i of the package are set to the E0 state, and   the value of i is incremented by 1 (i=i+1) and the previous steps are repeated sequentially for the following cells, from 1 to NCP, simultaneously in each package, if there are several packages.