Outotec (Finland) Oy

Outotec Oyj

Outokumpu Technology Oy

Metso Outotec Finland Oy

Ari Rantala

Henri K Virtanen

Lauri Nordlund

Michael H Barker

Duncan Grant

Jani Kaartinen

Jari Moilanen

Sönke Schmachtel

Ville Suontaka

Pertti Saviranta

Jyrki Malinen

Antti Remes

An arrangement for controlling a comminution process having a grinding circuit, includes an imaging system measuring 3D reconstruction measurement data for three-dimensional reconstruction of incoming ore; a particle size analysis equipment measuring particle size data for calculation of the particle size characteristic value of outgoing ore; an ore characteristics data calculation block receiving a particle size distribution profile of incoming ore and a particle size characteristic value of the outgoing ore, the particle size distribution profile being calculated and/or reconstructed from the 3D reconstruction measurement data for three-dimensional reconstruction, and the particle size characteristic value being calculated based on the measured particle size data, the ore characteristics data calculation block calculating ore characteristics data based on the particle size distribution profile and the particle size characteristic value; and a control block controlling the grinding circuit based on the calculated ore characteristics data.

Method and an arrangement for controlling of a comminution process having a grinding circuit

Provided is an electrode assembly for electrolytic processing in an electrolysis cell comprising an electrode blade comprising a metallic hanger bar portion, a first lug for supporting the metallic hanger bar portion on a first power supply bar, an insulating piece connecting the metallic hanger bar portion to the first lug. The electrode assembly also comprises an electrical switch unit controlling electrical current supply between the first lug and the metallic hanger bar based on a control signal transmitted to a terminal of the electrical switch unit, a control unit configured to transmit the control signal to the terminal of the electrical switch unit, and a power storage unit configured to supply power to the control unit, the power storage unit being charged from the first lug and the hanger bar when the electrical switch unit switches off electrical current supply between the first lug and the metallic hanger bar.

Apparatus for protection of anodes and cathodes in a system of electrolysis cells

The invention relates to a method and current measuring arrangement for measuring electric current flowing in an individual electrode in an electrolysis system. The electrolysis system comprises a plurality of interleaved electrodes (), cathodes () and anodes (), arranged in an electrolysis cell () and immersed in electrolyte, said electrolysis system having a busbar () disposed on a separating cell wall () between each of the two adjacent cells to conduct electric current to the electrodes via a contact point () between the busbar and a hanger bar () of the electrode, and the current sensing arrangement comprises a magnetic field sensing means () for measuring the magnetic field induced by said current. The magnetic field sensing means () are arranged to sense the magnetic field substantially at the level of the contact point ().

Arrangement for measuring electric current in an individual electrode in an electrolysis system

The invention relates to a method and current measuring arrangement for measuring electric current flowing in an individual electrode in an electrolysis system. The electrolysis system comprises a plurality of interleaved electrodes (), cathodes () and anodes (), arranged in an electrolysis cell () and immersed in electrolyte, said electrolysis system having a busbar arrangement () disposed on a separating cell wall () between each of the two adjacent cells. The busbar arrangement comprises an equalizer busbar () to electrically connect anodes in one cell to cathodes in a next cell providing the current with multiple electrical pathways between electrodes, said electrical connection being formed by contact points () between the equalizer busbar () and hanger bars () of the electrodes. The electric current in the equalizer busbar () is measured by magnetic field sensing means () arranged at measuring points () located between each pair of the adjacently neighboring contact points ().

Measurement of electric current in an individual electrode in an electrolysis system

The invention relates to an arrangement and method for monitoring and presenting the status of an electrolytic process in an electrolytic cell (). The arrangement is characterized by a return channel arrangement () for transmitting status information, established by the data processing means () of a data processing device () and describing the status of the electrolytic process in the electrolytic cell (), from the data processing device () to an indicator device () arranged in connection with the electrolytic cell (). The indicator device () comprises first presentation means () for presenting the status information established by the data processing means () of the data processing device () and describing the status of the electrolytic process in the electrolytic cell (). The indicator device () is arranged to receive the status information established by the data processing means () of the data processing device () and to present said status information established by the data processing means () of the data processing device () describing the status of the electrolytic process in the electrolytic cell () by the first presentation means ().

Method and arrangement for monitoring and presenting the status of an electrolytic process in an electrolytic cell

The invention is a method for controlling an electrolytic process and plant, utilizing history data collected in the process as well as mathematical and heuristic models created on the basis of empirical knowledge, and by means of said models, there are defined indexes based on real-time process measurement parameters. The method makes use of real-time cell voltage measurements. On the basis of the obtained real-time indexes, there is achieved a correctly focused process control action at the correct point of time.

Method for defining status index in copper electrolysis

The invention relates to a method for the improvement of current efficiency in electrolysis. According to the method, a theoretical cell voltage is first calculated, which is compared with the measured voltage. The cumulative difference between the theoretical and measured cell voltage is monitored constantly and when this difference is proportioned to the current efficiency, information on the status of the process can be obtained continually. A decrease in current efficiency is a clear indicator of short circuits between the electrodes, and by means of the method according to the invention, it is possible to concentrate the short circuit removal work onto the correct cell groups, from the point of view of the current efficiency of the electrolysis.

Method for the improvements of current efficiency in electrolysis

The invention relates to the improvement in the quality of cathodes produced in an electrolysis process. The surface of a cathode lifted from the cell during the cathode cycle is photographed and the physical quality of the cathode can be investigated in real time by means of equipment based on image-analysis. On the basis of the quality of the cathode surface, it is possible to monitor and control the electrolysis conditions in order to improve the quality of the cathode. The method is extremely suitable for the electrolytic purification of copper.

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Porvoo, Finland

Ari Rantala