Measurement of Cathodic Currents in Equipotential Inter-Cell Bars for Copper Electrowinning and Electrorefining Plants

This paper addresses the current distribution problem in copper electrowinning and electrorefining processes. Specifically, proposes a measurement technique for the cathodic currents in dog-bone type inter-cell bars using linear radiometric Hall effect sensors and ferromagnetic flux concentrators. The method is highly non-invasive and fully compatible with these processes - it does not require any modification to cell structures, and enables on-line monitoring of the cathode currents. This opens a window for full automation based on cathode weight and harvesting time estimation. It also enables process optimization and setting of the maximum process current. Finally, adds the capability of detecting and locating metallurgical short-circuits upon early stages of genesis. The proposed measurement method was verified under different operational conditions using experimental data from a copper refinery facility. Results show an accuracy error lower than 4% even in the worst case of multiple adjacent short- circuits.