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

1. An electrode assembly for electrolytic processing of a metal in an electrolysis cell, the electrode assembly 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;

a second lug for supporting the metallic hanger bar portion in a horizontal position together with the first lug;

a first insulating piece mechanically connecting the first lug to the metallic hanger bar portion while keeping the first lug electrically separated from the metallic hanger bar portion;

a second insulating piece mechanically connecting the second lug to the metallic hanger bar portion while keeping the second lug electrically separated from the metallic hanger bar portion;

an electrical switch unit controlling electrical current supply between the first lug and the metallic hanger bar portion based on control signals transmitted to a terminal of the electrical switch unit;

a current measuring unit configured to measure current strength between the metallic hanger bar portion and the first lug;

a control unit comprising a memory and at least one processor configured to transmit the control signals to the terminal of the electrical switch unit to, when the current strength indicated by the current measuring unit exceeds a predefined threshold value, turn the electrical switch unit off in order to protect the electrode blade and the metallic hanger bar; 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 metallic hanger bar portion when the electrical switch unit switches off electrical current supply between the first lug and the metallic hanger bar portion based on a control signal to switch off electrical current supply.

2. The electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the power storage unit comprises a capacitor.

3. The electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the power storage unit comprises a rechargeable battery.

4. The electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit further comprises a transceiver configured to transmit messages to a remote computer and to receive messages from the remote computer, the received messages comprising at least one message to determine the control signals.

5. The electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical switch unit comprises a plurality of Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors.

6. The electrode assembly according to claim 5 , wherein sources of the plurality of the Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors are connected to the metallic hanger bar portion, drains of the plurality of the Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors are connected to the first lug and gates of the plurality of the Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors are connected to the terminal of the electrical switch unit.

7. The electrode assembly according to claim 5 , wherein drains of the plurality of the Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors are connected to the metallic hanger bar portion, sources of the plurality of the Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors are connected to the first lug and gates of the plurality of the Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors are connected to the terminal of the electrical switch unit.

8. The electrode assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the plurality of Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors are power Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors.

9. The electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the second lug supports the metallic hanger bar portion on a second power supply bar.

10. The electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the predefined threshold value indicates a short circuit current.

11. The electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the predefined threshold value is received from a remote computer unit.

12. The electrode assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the remote computer unit is configured to determine electrical currents between the first lugs and the metallic hanger bars portions in a plurality of electrode assemblies, to determine a difference between a sum of all cathode currents and all anode currents and a current at a central rectifier providing power supply to the electrode tank, to transmit a control message to the control unit based on the difference, the control message comprising the predefined threshold value.

13. The electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the metal is copper.

14. The electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode blade is an anode.

15. The electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode blade is a cathode.

16. The electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the electrolytic processing is electrowinning or electrorefining.

17. An electrode tank comprising:

a plurality of electrode assemblies according to claim 1 , the electrodes being anodes and cathodes; and

a computer unit configured to determine electrical currents between the first lugs and the metallic hanger bars portions in the plurality of electrode assemblies, to determine a difference between a sum of all cathode currents and all anode currents and a current at a central rectifier providing power supply to the electrode tank, and to cause a change in the control signals to the electrical switch units to increase or decrease electrical current supply between the first lugs and the metallic hanger bars portions in the plurality of electrode assemblies.