Using fuel cells or anode depolarization to reduce electrowinning energy consumption

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:6256766

Cook, G M

Some existing and proposed metal electrowinning plant sites have hydrogen available to reduce the need for purchased energy. Hydrogen can reduce the energy consumption of electrowinning processes by depolarizing the anode; alternatively, it can be used in a fuel cell to generate dc electricity and heat at high efficiency. The use of H/sub 2/ to depolarize an anode in zinc electrowinning has been shown to reduce overall cell voltage by nearly 2 volts at 450 A/m/sup 2/. In a fuel cell, electricity can be produced with an efficiency of about 45 to 50% compared to about 30 to 32% for conventional generating equipment and the heat produced is available at temperatures which vary from about 150/sup 0/C for phosphoric acid fuel cells to 550 to 800/sup 0/C for advanced high temperature fuel cell systems. This paper examines the increased complexity that the depolarized anode and molten carbonate fuel cell technologies impose upon the electrowinning process, assesses the extent of energy savings that are available, and provides insight into the impact on capital and operating costs. 7 references.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31-109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6256766
• Report Number(s): CONF-850211-3; ON: DE85006187
• Resource Relation: Conference: Annual meeting of the Society of Mining Engineers, New York, NY, USA, 24 Feb 1985
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS
USES
METAL INDUSTRY
MOLTEN CARBONATE FUEL CELLS
ZINC
ELECTRODEPOSITION
ANODES
DEPOLARIZATION
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
ELECTROMETALLURGY
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
WASTE HEAT UTILIZATION
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYSIS
ELEMENTS
FUEL CELLS
HIGH-TEMPERATURE FUEL CELLS
INDUSTRY
LYSIS
METALLURGY
METALS
SURFACE COATING
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
300504* - Fuel Cells- Applications
320301 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Energy Sources