Abstract
In normal practice, the design and sizing of intercell contact bars (ICCB) for electrowinning is based on previously used designs, empirical testwork, or rules of thumb, rather than from first principles. A major operating cost for electrowinning is power consumption. The ICCB is responsible for a portion of the power costs due to its electrical resistance, which comprises electrode contact resistances and the bulk resistance of the ICCB.
This paper presents the methods used to calculate the electrical resistances and the results for a number of different widely accepted ICCB designs currently used in electrowinning plants. The paper also makes comparisons between the systems on other key parameters for ICCB performance in nickel and cobalt tankhouses.
Access provided by Autonomous University of Puebla. Download to read the full chapter text
Chapter PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
I.S. Laitenen, “Modelling, Simulation and Optimization of Copper Electrolysis Cell Group” (Thesis, Tampere University of Technology, 2009), 10–13.
N. Aslin, D. Stone, and W. Webb, “Current distribution in modern copper refining” (Xstrata ISAKidd Technical Papers, 2005) 12–13.
G.A. Vidal et al., “Performance of intercell bars for electrolytic applications: A critical evaluation,” Hydrometallurgy 2003, 2 (2003), 1381–1393.
Outotec, Copper SX-EW technology, (Finland, 2007).
R. Deane et al, “Contact bar for electrolytic cells” (United States Patent No 4,035,280, July 12, 1977).
B. Ashford et al., “Double contact bar insulator assembly for electrowinning of a metal,” (United States Patent No 2011024369, November 24, 2011).
Ragner Holm, Electrical Contacts: Theory and Application (New York: Springer-Verlag, 1967), 2, 44.
S. Sawada et al., “Prediction of Electrical Contact Resistance of Tin-Plated and Silver-Plated Terminals,” SEI Technical Review, 71 (2010) 37–43
R.S. Timsit, “Electrical Contact Resistance: Properties of Stationary Interfaces,” IEEE Transactions on Components and Packaging Technology, 22 (1) (1999), 85–97.
William D. Callister, Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2003), 592–594.
Copper Development Association, Copper in Electrical Contacts: Technical Note 23 (Hempstead, United Kingdom, 1980).
P. Adegbuyi et al., “Effects of Temperature on the Oxidation Kinetic of Copper Alloys” The Pacific Journal of Science and Technology, 10 (2) (2009), 163–171.
S. Sandoval et al., “Development and Commercialization of an Alternative Anode for Copper Electrowinning,” Proceedings of Cu2010, (2010), 6–7.
F. Crundwell et al., Extractive Metallurgy of Nickel, Cobalt and Platinum-Group Metals (Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2011), 328–331.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 TMS (The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Boon, C., Fraser, R., Johnston, T., Robinson, D. (2013). Comparison of Intercell Contact Bars for Electrowinning Plants. In: Battle, T., et al. Ni-Co 2013. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48147-0_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48147-0_11
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-48581-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-48147-0
eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials ScienceChemistry and Material Science (R0)