Simulation Study of Electrolyte Flow and Slime Particle Transport in a Newly Designed Copper Electrorefining Cell

Abstract

A model based in COMSOL Multiphysics (a finite element analysis software) consisting of a specially designed electrorefining cell was developed to simulate copper electrorefining. This cell has its inlet on the side wall near the cell top and its outlet on the opposite side wall near the cell bottom. Copper concentration profile was acquired as electrochemical simulation results. Electrolyte flow velocity field and slime particle trajectory were obtained as fluid flow and particle transport simulation results. Features of the copper concentration profile, the electrolyte flow field, and the slime particle transport are discussed. The simulation results of this cell are compared with those of a lab-scale conventional cell, and some advantages of this cell can be found: cupric ions in the cell are more uniformly distributed with better convection in the inter-electrode domain; slime particles are more likely to settle to the cell bottom without affecting the cathode purity.