Electrorefining installation with interconnectable intercell bars

Abstract

An electrorefining installation has interconnectable intercell bars of the electroplating installation type that purifies metals using electrolysis. At least three cells are connected in series to one another by a set of three bars, namely, a main central bar and two lateral bars placed between each two consecutive cells. The central bar provides support and an electrical connection to one of the ends of the hangers of the cathodes of the previous cell and to one of the ends of the hangers of the anodes of the following cell. One of the lateral bars provides support and connection to all the anodes of the previous cell, and the other lateral bar provides support and connection to all the cathodes of the following cell. The installation has electric switches capable of establishing an electric bridge between the lateral bars for a short period of time causing a temporary current inversion.

1 . An electrorefining installation 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 three electrical connection bars arranged parallel to each other between each cell and the next, comprising a central bar ( 1 ), an upper side bar ( 4 ), a lower side bar ( 5 ),   a plurality of high-current electrical switches ( 7 ), which can be remotely activated and deactivated via communication means, connected electrically between each upper side bar ( 4 ) and the lower side bar ( 5 ) of the same set, and evenly distributed along the electrical connection bars ( 4 ,  5 ), and   at least one control equipment ( 13 ) equipped with means of communication with the electrical switches ( 7 ),   each central 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 all anode hangers ( 3 ) of the next cell,   each upper side bar ( 4 ) serving as both a mechanical support and electrical connection of all the anodes ( 3 ) of the preceding cell, and   each lower side bar ( 5 ), serving as both a mechanical support and electrical connection of all the cathodes ( 2 ) of the next cell.   
     
     
         2 . The electrorefining installation 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 options. 
     
     
         3 . The electrorefining installation 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 ). 
     
     
         4 . The electrorefining installation with interconnectable intercell bars of  claim 1 , wherein the printed circuit boards associated with the electrical switches ( 7 ) have current sensors. 
     
     
         5 . The electrorefining installation 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. 
     
     
         6 . The electrorefining installation 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 with a resistive value similar to that of the cells. 
     
     
         7 . The electrorefining installation 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 electro-deposition cells. 
     
     
         8 . A method of reversing current of the electrorefining installation 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,   
       wherein 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.