中国有色冶金

Copper electrolyte flow field is of great importance to the ion concentration, temperature distribution and anode slime settling in electrolytic cells. In this paper, Fluent-based numerical simulation has been conducted on a domestic copper electrolytic cell in terms of three different feeding modes of electrolyte, i.e., one-side parallel flow, bidirectional parallel flow and new-type parallel flow. The simulation results show that in the one-side parallel flow feeding mode, the electrolyte flows from bottom to top, which is easy to stir up the anode slime settled in the cell, causing low-purity of cathode copper and unfavorable for the reasonable recovery of anode slime; in the bidirectional parallel flow feeding mode, the electrolyte flows from top to bottom, the flow velocity at the inlet is high, the velocity difference in the flow field may cause backflow, unfavorable for anode slime settling; the new-type parallel flow is an upgrade of the bidirectional parallel flow, in this feeding mode, the number of feeding and discharge ports is reduced, the inlets on two sides is different in height, which makes most of electrolyte enter between plates and reduces the flow velocity at the cell bottom. It boasts the advantages of uniform and stable velocity at flow field, short electrolysis cycle and convenience in maintenance.