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Simulation of hydrodynamics and inhibitor consumption in hydrometallurgical plants

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Abstract

Mathematical models are presented for the consumption of the inhibitors of electrocrystallization in hydrometallurgical plants involved with the copper electrorefining and zinc electrowinning. Continuously-stirred tank reactors (CSTR) and plug flow reactors (PFR) in which first order chemical and electrochemical reactions take place are used in these models. The time dependent behaviours of the industrial plants are predicted. Tests with metallic tracers show the validity of the models. Possible uses in electrocrystallization studies are described.

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Abbreviations

V :

volume of a reactor (CSTR or PFR)

V′:

volumetric flow rate of the electrolyte entering the electrochemical cell

α:

ratio between the volumetric flow rate of the ‘fresh’ electrolyte fed in the holding tank and that of the electrolyte entering the electrochemical cell

n :

ratio between the volumetric flow rate of the electrolyte in the PFR located near the cathode and that entering the electrochemical cell

m :

ratio between the volumetric flow rate of the electrolyte in the PFR located between the electrodes and the cell walls (electrowinning model) and that entering the electrochemical cell

C n :

concentration of the reactant in the ‘fresh’ fed electrolyte

k:

chemical reaction rate constant

ka, kc :

electrochemical reaction rate constant

a :

ratio between the surface area of an electrode immersed in a reactor and the volume of this reactor

S :

surface area of an electrode

τ:

ratio between the volume of a reactor and its volumetric flow-rate=spacetime of the reactor

t :

time

C :

concentration

r :

rate of a chemical reaction per unit volume of reacting fluid

r″:

rate of an electrochemical reaction per unit surface area of the electrode

1 to 7:

reactor number

a:

anodic or anode

c:

cathodic or cathode

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgy-Electrochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 50 Av. F.D. Roosevelt, C.P. 165, 1050, Bruxelles, Belgium

    M. Degrez, J. -L. Delplancke & R. Winand

Authors
  1. M. Degrez
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  2. J. -L. Delplancke
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  3. R. Winand
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Degrez, M., Delplancke, J.L. & Winand, R. Simulation of hydrodynamics and inhibitor consumption in hydrometallurgical plants. J Appl Electrochem 20, 110–115 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012479

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012479

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