Wireless electrolytic cell monitoring powered by ultra low bus voltage

• US 7,550,068 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2005
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kennecott Utah Copper, LLC (Rio Tinto Limited)
• Original Assignee: Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation (Rio Tinto Limited)
• Inventors: George, David B., Zhou, Keming, Roth, Roger, You, Eugene Yanjun, Ruan, Minyan, Berges-Dreyfous, Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell; Bruce F
• Application Number:
  US11/082,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20050217999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 204/278.5, 204/242, 204/267, 204/269, 204/270, 204/229.8, 204/230.2, 204/228.6, 2042281-2284, 204/232, 204/224.R, 205/574
• US Class Current: 204/229.8
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/02 Process control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/06 Detection or inhibition of short circuits in the cell
• CPC Class Codes: C25C 7/06 Operating or servicing
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 21/12 Process control or regulation controlling or regulating in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/207 Constructional details independent of the type of device used
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/20 Recycling

Abstract

A system, device, and method include a cell-powered first electronic device powered using electrical potential imposed across an electrolytic cell. The potential is voltage-boosted to accomplish this task. If the electrical potential imposed the cell is insufficient, the device can also be battery-powered. In any event, this device is in communication with one or more sensors in the electrolytic cell, as well as a second electronic device, and the first and second electronic devices wirelessly communicate. More specifically, the first electronic device wireless transmits data signals to the second electronic device, which receives the same. The first and second electronic devices are physically remote from one another, and they communicating over a private or public network, preferably using spread spectrum technology. In addition, the second electronic device also preferably transmits data signals to a computer for further processing of the data signals, and these arrangements can be used, for example, when producing copper.

Claims

1. An electrolytic cell monitoring system, comprising:

a first electronic device electrically attached to current rails of the electrolytic cell, and powered using electrical potential imposed across current rails of the electrolytic cell, the first electronic device in communication with one or more sensors that monitor respective one or more properties of the electrolytic cell, and

a second electronic device in wireless communication with said first electronic device for receiving data signals from said first electronic device, said first electronic device and said second electronic device being physically remote from one another.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first electronic device transmits said data signals to said second electronic device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said first electronic device and said second electronic device communicate over a wireless personal area network.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said first electronic device and said second electronic device communicate over a low rate wireless network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said first electronic device and said second electronic device communicate using a spread spectrum wireless network.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a computer in communication with said second electronic device, wherein said second electronic device transmits said data signals to said computer for further processing of said data signals.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said first electronic device includes a battery to power said first electronic device when said electrical potential imposed across current rails of the electrolytic cell is insufficient to power said first electronic device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said first electronic device includes a voltage booster which is operable to boost the electrical potential imposed across current rails of the electrolytic cell to provide a voltage level sufficient to power said first electronic device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more sensors are selected from a group consisting of a voltage sensor, temperature sensor, turbidity sensor, and composition sensor.

10. An electrolytic cell monitoring device, comprising:

an electronic component electrically attached to current rails of the electrolytic cell and in communication with one or more sensors that monitor respective one or more properties of the electrolytic cell, wherein said electronic component is powered using electrical potential imposed across current rails of the electrolytic cell.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said device includes a battery to power said device when said electrical potential imposed across the current rails of the electrolytic cell is insufficient to power said device.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein said device includes a voltage booster which is operable to boost the electrical potential imposed across the current rails of the electrolytic cell to provide a voltage level sufficient to power said device.

13. A method for monitoring an electrolytic cell, comprising:

providing a first electronic device electrically attached to current rails of the electrolytic cell and in communication with one or more sensors in the electrolytic cell;

powering said first electronic device using electrical potential imposed across current rails of the electrolytic cell;

monitoring with the one or more sensors respective one or more properties of the electrolytic cell; and

wirelessly transmitting data signals from said first electronic device to a second electronic device, said first electronic device and said second electronic device being physically remote from one another.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said first electronic device and said second electronic device communicate over a wireless personal area network.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said first electronic device and said second electronic device communicate over a low rate wireless network.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said first electronic device and said second electronic device communicate using a spread spectrum network.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

powering said first electronic device using a battery when said electrical potential imposed across current rails of the electrolytic cell is insufficient to power said first electronic device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery, the method comprising recharging the rechargeable battery with the electrical potential.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

boosting said electrical potential imposed across current rails of the electrolytic cell to provide a voltage level sufficient to power said first electronic device.

20. A method for producing high-purity copper, comprising:

treating feed material to form therefrom one or more anodes comprising copper contaminated with one or more non-copper impurities;

electrolytically refining said anodes in one or more electrolytic cells comprising an aqueous sulfuric acid electrolyte, into which said anodes and also cathodes are immersed, said refining comprising establishing a voltage between said anodes and said cathodes of sufficient electrical potential to dissolve copper from said anodes and deposit high-purity copper onto said cathodes;

providing an electronic device electrically attached to the anodes and the cathodes and in communication with one or more sensors sampling the sensors;

sampling the one or more sensors monitoring cell parameters corresponding to physical properties of said cell to which said sensors are attached to generate one or more data signals, said data signals corresponding to said parameters;

powering the electronic device with the electrical potential between the anodes and the cathodes; and

wirelessly transmitting said data signals to a remote electronic device.