Anode assembly, system including the assembly, and method of using same
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to an anode assembly for use in an electrolytic cell for recovery of metal. The assembly includes a hanger bar, a first perimeter bar, a second perimeter bar, optionally one or more center conductor bars, a base bar, a first tab coupled to the first perimeter bar and/or the base bar, and a second tab coupled to the second perimeter bar and/or the base bar. The assembly may also include insulating separators coupled to the tabs and/or insulators coupled to an active area of the anode assembly. A system includes the anode assembly, a cathode assembly, and a tank.
1. An anode assembly comprising:
a hanger bar comprising a first end having a first offset and a second end having a second offset;
a conductor bar coupled to the hanger bar;
a base bar coupled to the conductor bar;
a first perimeter bar coupled to the hanger bar at a position proximate the first offset and having a first bend;
a second perimeter bar coupled to the hanger bar at a position proximate the second offset and having a second bend; and
an active surface having a first edge and a second edge;
wherein at least a portion of the first edge is coupled to the first perimeter bar and at least a portion of the second edge is coupled to the second perimeter bar.
2. The anode assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first tab coupled to the first perimeter bar and the base bar and a second tab coupled to the second perimeter bar and the base bar.
3. The anode assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a first insulating spacer coupled to the first tab and a second insulating spacer coupled to the second tab.
4. The anode assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first insulating spacer comprises a first bracket to couple to a lower portion of the first tab.
5. The anode assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first insulating spacer has a tapered shape, which is wider at a bottom of the first insulating spacer and narrower at a top of the first insulating spacer.
6. The anode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first perimeter bar is welded to the at least a portion of the first edge and the second perimeter bar is welded to the at least a portion of the second edge.
7. The anode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first perimeter bar and the second perimeter bar comprise copper clad with titanium.
8. The anode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the active surface comprises expanded titanium.
9. An anode assembly comprising:
a hanger bar comprising a first end having a first offset and a second end having a second offset;
a first perimeter bar coupled to the hanger bar and having a first bend;
a second perimeter bar coupled to the hanger bar and having a second bend;
a first tab coupled to the first perimeter bar;
a second tab coupled to the second perimeter bar; and
a base bar coupled to the first tab and the second tab, wherein the first tab and the second tab comprise a metal.
10. The anode assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a conductor bar coupled to the hanger bar and the base bar.
11. The anode assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a first insulating separator coupled to the first tab and a second insulating separator coupled to the second tab.
12. The anode assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first perimeter bar and the second perimeter bar comprise a metal core and a cladding layer.
13. The anode assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first perimeter bar and the second perimeter bar comprise copper clad with titanium.
14. The anode assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a first active area coupled to the first perimeter bar and the second perimeter bar.
15. The anode assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first active area comprises expanded titanium.
16. The anode assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first active area comprises expanded titanium coated with a mixture of tantalum oxide and iridium oxide.
17. The anode assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a second active area coupled to the first perimeter bar and the second perimeter bar.
18. The anode assembly of claim 17 , wherein the second active area comprises expanded titanium.
19. The anode assembly of claim 9 , wherein the base bar comprises titanium.
20. A system for plating metal onto an active area of a cathode, the system comprising:
a tank;
a cathode assembly, comprising a cathode active area;
an anode assembly spaced apart from the cathode assembly, wherein the anode assembly comprises:
a hanger bar comprising a first end having a first offset and a second end having a second offset;
a conductor bar coupled to the hanger bar;
a base bar coupled to the conductor bar;
a first perimeter bar coupled to the hanger bar at a position proximate the first offset and having a first bend;
a second perimeter bar coupled to the hanger bar at a position proximate the second offset and having a second bend; and
an active surface having a first edge and a second edge;
wherein at least a portion of the first edge is coupled to the first perimeter bar and at least a portion of the second edge is coupled to the second perimeter bar.
21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the first end is longer than the second end.