HELM TRACKERTM CATHODE CURRENT SENSING TECHNOLOGY

摘要

In electrowinning and electrorefining operations, the detection of operational issues associated with electrode currents has long been a highly labour intensive reactive operations task. The Hatch HELM tracker™ system is set to change the way tankhouses are operated with its ability to measure and record the current flow of every cathode and cell voltage in real time. This information is then presented to provide the ability to identify shorts, poor contacts, and any uneven current distribution. Benefits expected include increases in current efficiency, and thus reduction in operating costs, or increases in production. The software also facilitates simple management of cathode inspection/straightening, stripping and cell cleaning cycles. Hatch has been demonstrating the robustness and performance of the HELM tracker system at commercial copper electrowinning plants. This paper describes the development of this exciting new technology and the expected benefits to the electrowinning and electrorefining industry with specific coverage of its application to the electrowinning of nickel and cobalt.