JP4055298B2 - Electrolyzer level adjustment device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for continuously adjusting the liquid level of an electrolytic cell used in a copper electrolytic purification process or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the copper electrolytic purification process, electrolysis was performed using the crude copper anode obtained by smelting as the anode and the cathode of the pure copper seed plate as the cathode, and the copper dissolved in the electrolyte from the crude copper anode was used as the cathode of the pure copper seed plate. Electrodeposition with a purity of 99.99% or more is produced by electrodeposition.
[0003]
In the electrolytic cell used for the electrolysis of copper, the electrolytic solution is continuously supplied and a part of the electrolytic solution is drained to circulate the electrolytic solution. However, if the electrolysis is continued with the electrolyte level in the electrolytic cell maintained at the same level, the electrolytic copper becomes thicker than other parts near the cathode level, and the electrolyte components are near the level. There is a problem that the appearance quality of the obtained electrolytic copper is deteriorated because it is concentrated and deposited and is easily fixed as a crystal to the cathode.
[0004]
Therefore, conventionally, in the electrolytic refining process of copper, continuous liquid level adjustment is performed by periodically raising and lowering the liquid level of the electrolytic solution for the purpose of improving the appearance quality of electrolytic copper. As an apparatus for performing such liquid level adjustment, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a drainage box 3 that communicates with the inside of the electrolytic cell 1 and the opening 2 a of the barrier plate 2 is provided. There is known one having a first drainage pipe 5 and a second drainage pipe 6 each having drainage ports 4a and 4b having different heights.
[0005]
In the liquid level adjusting device of FIG. 1, the first drainage pipe 5 includes a pipe weir 5 a having a drainage port 4 a opened upward, and the second drainage pipe 6 has a drainage port 4 b on the bottom surface of the drainage box 3. It is open and can be opened and closed by an automatic opening / closing valve 7. On the other hand, in the liquid level adjusting device of FIG. 2, the first drainage pipe 5 has the same pipe weir 5a, but the inverted U-shaped pipe 8 having the drainage port 4b opened downward at one end of the second drainage pipe. Is used. A siphon 9 is disposed on the other end side of the inverted U-shaped pipe 8 and is opened and closed by an electromagnetic on-off valve 10.
[0006]
In any of the above liquid level adjustment devices, the drainage port 4b of the second drainage pipe 6 is installed at a position sufficiently lower than the drainage port 4a of the pipe weir 5a of the first drainage pipe 5. When the second drainage pipe 6 is closed by the automatic on-off valve 7 or when the siphon 9 is stopped by opening the electromagnetic on-off valve 10, the electrolyte is stored in the drainage box 3 and the pipe weir 5a As the liquid level rises to the upper end and overflows from the drainage port 4a, the liquid level of the electrolytic cell 1 is maintained at the height (upper limit level) of the upper end of the pipe weir 5a.
[0007]
On the other hand, if the automatic opening / closing valve 7 of the second drainage pipe 6 is opened or the sign phone 9 is closed and the electromagnetic opening / closing valve 10 is closed, the electrolytic solution in the draining box 3 is drained. Since the liquid flows out from 4 b to the second drainage pipe 6, the liquid level of the electrolytic solution in the electrolytic cell 1 is lowered to the height (lower limit level) of the lower end of the opening 2 a of the barrier plate 2. In this way, the automatic on / off valve 7 is opened / closed or the siphon 9 is operated and stopped by the electromagnetic on / off valve 10 using the sequencer, so that the liquid level of the electrolytic solution in the electrolytic cell 1 is periodically raised and lowered automatically. Can be made.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional liquid level adjusting device described above, in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, since the drainage port 4b is opened at the bottom surface of the drainage box 3, the air accumulated in the pipe flows backward and flows from the drainage port 4b. There was a drawback in that it was dangerous because the electrolyte was blown out and scattered around. In addition, the apparatus of FIG. 2 has a drawback that there is a considerable time difference from when the siphon 9 is activated until the liquid level actually starts to fall, and the responsiveness is poor.
[0009]
The present invention solves the drawbacks of such a conventional liquid level adjustment device, there is no scattering of the electrolytic solution due to the backflow of air accumulated in the drainage pipe, and the liquid level of the electrolytic cell is excellent in response of operation. An object is to provide an adjusting device.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the electrolytic tank liquid level adjusting device provided by the present invention includes a drainage box that communicates with the inside of the electrolytic tank and the opening of the weir plate, and a drainage port that opens into the drainage box. A first drainage pipe and a second drainage pipe communicating with the first drainage pipe, the first drainage pipe having a pipe weir with the drainage port opened upward above the lower end of the opening of the weir plate, The second drainage pipe has an inverted U-shaped pipe in which the drainage port is opened downward below the lower end of the opening of the dam plate, and an automatic opening / closing valve is provided in the second drainage pipe. Features.
[0011]
Moreover, in the electrolytic cell liquid level adjusting device of the present invention, a rotary cap capable of changing the height of the drainage port in stages is attached to the upper end of the pipe weir, and the electrolytic solution in the electrolytic cell is attached. The upper limit level can be controlled.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Specific examples of the liquid level adjusting device of the present invention are shown in FIGS. A drainage box 13 is installed on the side wall of the electrolytic cell 11, and the inside of the electrolytic cell 11 and the drainage box 13 communicate with each other through an opening 12 a of the weir plate 12. The electrolytic solution is continuously supplied to the electrolytic cell 11 and is continuously discharged from the electrolytic cell 11 to the drainage box 13 through the opening 12a of the barrier plate 12.
[0013]
The drainage box 13 communicates with a first drainage pipe 15 and a second drainage pipe 16 through drainage ports 14a and 14b, respectively. That is, the first drainage pipe 15 has a pipe weir 15 a in the drainage box 13, and the drainage port 14 a at its upper end opens upward above the lower end of the opening 12 a of the weir plate 12. . The second drainage pipe 16 includes an inverted U-shaped pipe 18 having a drainage port 14b having one end opened downward in the drainage box 13, and the drainage port 14b is an opening 12a of the weir plate 12. It is located below the lower end of.
[0014]
Further, the second drainage pipe 16 is provided with an automatic opening / closing valve 17, which is opened and closed by a control means such as a sequencer, so that the liquid level of the electrolytic cell 11 can be adjusted to the drainage port 14 a at the upper end of the pipe weir 15 a. Between the height (upper limit level) and the height (lower limit level) of the lower end of the opening 12a of the weir plate 12 can be automatically adjusted at regular time intervals.
[0015]
That is, when the second drainage pipe 16 is closed by the automatic opening / closing valve 17, the electrolyte flowing out from the opening 12a of the weir plate 12 accumulates in the drainage box 13, and the liquid level rises to the upper end of the pipe weir 15a. Then, it overflows from the drain port 14a, and the liquid level of the electrolytic solution in the electrolytic cell 11 is maintained at the upper limit level. When the automatic opening / closing valve 17 of the second drainage pipe 16 is opened, the electrolytic solution accumulated in the drainage box 3 flows out from the drainage port 14b through the inverted U-shaped pipe 18 to the second drainage pipe 16 to be electrolyzed. The liquid level of the electrolytic solution in the tank 11 can be lowered to the lower limit level.
[0016]
When the liquid level is automatically adjusted as described above, the liquid level of the electrolytic cell rises and falls within the same range between the upper limit level and the lower limit level. At this time, the portion having a high free sulfuric acid concentration near the liquid surface of the electrolytic solution may cause a problem such as cutting the suspension part of the cathode, particularly near the liquid surface at the upper limit level. In such a case, it is preferable to periodically change only the upper limit level of the liquid level.
[0017]
As a means for changing the upper limit level of the liquid level, the simplest and most effective method is to provide a rotary cap that can change the height of the drainage port at the upper end of the pipe weir. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the protruding pin 19 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the upper end portion of the pipe weir 15a, and the rotary cap 20 is fitted to the outer periphery of the upper end portion of the pipe weir 15a. Cuts 20 a, 20 b, and 20 c having different depths that can be engaged with the projecting pins 19 are provided at the lower edge of the rotary cap 20.
[0018]
The upper limit level of the liquid level can be easily changed by rotating the rotary cap 20 and engaging the protruding pin 19 with any of the cuts 20a, 20b, and 20c. That is, the shallower the notches 20a, 20b, 20c of the rotary cap 20 engaged with the protruding pin 19, the higher the upper end of the rotary cap 20 becomes higher than the drainage port 14a at the upper end of the original pipe weir 15a. It becomes a new drainage port 14c to regulate the upper limit level of the liquid level.
[0019]
Although the rotation of the rotary cap can be automated, it is not necessary to frequently adjust the upper limit level of the liquid level, so it is sufficient to manually rotate it at a certain long time interval.
[0020]
【Example】
Using the liquid level adjusting device of the present invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the copper electrolytic purification operation was carried out while adjusting the liquid level of the electrolytic solution in the electrolytic cell 11. In addition, a rotary cap 20 having notches 20a, 20b, and 20c with three levels of depth shown in FIG. 5 was inserted into the upper end of the pipe weir 15a, and the upper limit level of the liquid level was adjusted.
[0021]
That is, 27 anodes and 26 cathodes were placed in an electrolytic cell 11 containing an electrolyte solution having a capacity of 4.8 m ³ , and a copper sulfate solution having a copper concentration of 50 g / l was used as the electrolyte at a flow rate of 15 to 20 liters / minute. The liquid level of the electrolytic cell 11 was continuously adjusted by opening and closing the automatic opening / closing valve 17 of the second drainage pipe 16 by sequence control while continuously supplying the electrolytic cell 11. In addition, the rotary cap 20 inserted into the upper end of the pipe weir 15a was manually engaged with the projecting pins 19 in order of cuts 20a, 20b, and 20c of three stages every three days.
[0022]
Thus, when electricity was continuously applied for 10 to 11 days until a cathode of about 150 kg was obtained, the liquid level in the electrolytic cell 11 was an upper limit level (upper end of the rotary cap 20) and a lower limit level (dam plate). 12) (lower end of 12 openings 12a) can be automatically and continuously adjusted, and copper electrolytic purification can be performed without any problem.
[0023]
Further, in the conventional siphon type continuous liquid level adjusting device, there is a time difference of 2 to 5 minutes from the transmission of the siphon operation signal until the liquid level starts to fluctuate. However, the device of the present invention eliminates this time difference. I was able to. Furthermore, even when the air accumulated in the second drainage pipe 16 blows out, the air blows out from the downward drainage port 14b of the inverted U-shaped pipe 18 toward the bottom of the drainage box 13, so that the electrolytic solution There is no longer any danger of splashing around.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to automatically adjust the liquid level of the electrolytic solution in the electrolytic cell used for the copper electrolytic purification process, etc. It is possible to eliminate scattering of the electrolyte due to the backflow of air. Therefore, it is easy to manage the liquid level of the electrolytic cell, and it is possible to obtain electrolytic copper having a uniform thickness and excellent appearance quality in electrolytic refining of copper.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a conventional automatic opening / closing valve type liquid level adjustment device.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a conventional siphon valve type liquid level adjustment device.
FIG. 3 is a schematic partially cutaway perspective view showing a specific example of the liquid level adjusting device according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a specific example of a liquid level adjusting device according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a rotary cap used in the liquid level adjustment device of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 11 Electrolyzer 2, 12 Dam plate 2a, 12a Opening part 3, 13 Drainage box 4a, 4b, 14a, 14b, 14c Drain outlet 5, 15 1st drain piping 6, 16 2nd drain Liquid piping 7, 17 Automatic on-off valves 8, 18 Reverse U-shaped pipe 9 Siphon 10 Electromagnetic on-off valve 19 Projection pin 20 Rotary caps 20a, 20b, 20c

Claims (2)

A drainage box that communicates with the inside of the electrolytic cell by the opening of the weir plate, and a first drainage pipe and a second drainage pipe that communicate with the drainage ports respectively opened in the drainage box. The drainage pipe has a pipe weir with the drainage port opened upward above the lower end of the opening of the dam plate, and the second drainage pipe has the drainage port below the lower end of the dam plate opening. And an automatic open / close valve in the second drainage pipe, and a liquid level adjusting device for an electrolytic cell. The electrolytic tank liquid level adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein a rotary cap capable of changing the height of the drainage port in a stepwise manner is attached to an upper end portion of the pipe weir.

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