2018-Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit
SIPS2018 Volume 3. Fehrmann Intl. Symp. / Molten Salt and Ionic Liquid
| Editors: | F. Kongoli, M. Haumann, P. Wasserscheid, T. Welton, M. Gaune-Escard, A. Angell, A. Riisager |
| Publisher: | Flogen Star OUTREACH |
| Publication Year: | 2018 |
| Pages: | 154 pages |
| ISBN: | 978-1-987820-86-7 |
| ISSN: | 2291-1227 (Metals and Materials Processing in a Clean Environment Series) |
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A Computational Model for Dimulating Rare Earth Reduction on Electrowinning Cells
Jose Adilson de Castro1; Marcos de Campos1;1UFF - FEDERAL FLUMINENSE UNIVERSITY, Volta Redonda, Brazil;
Type of Paper: Regular
Id Paper: 319
Topic: 13
Abstract:
A computational model for simulating the production of metallic rare earth by reduction process of molten salts within an electrowinning cell is discussed. The model was formulated based on the multiphase and multicomponent Navier-Stokes and k-epsilon turbulence transport equations, coupled with Maxwell's relations to account for the magneto hydrodynamic phenomena. The multiphase transport equations are solved using the finite volume formulation. The SIMPLE algorithm is used to couple the momentum and pressure equations, and the algebraic coefficients are calculated using the power law scheme. The set of the discretized algebraic equations are iteratively solved using the line by line procedure based on the tridiagonal matrix. The model equations were implemented in a computational code, and the parametric geometry and operational data used were based on the actual operation of the electrowinning cell specially designed for rare earth production. Results based on the simulation cases were discussed and shown feasibility and accordance with actual operation units. Simulated scenarios indicated that optimal conditions could be achieved with lower emissions and high energy consumption efficiency. The model is useful for predicting optimal parameters of processing, such as cell geometry, current density, gas and particulate emissions, and cell stability.
Keywords:
Electrolysis; Energy; Ion; Moltensalt; Processing;References:
[1] N. Krishnamurthy, C. K. Gupta. Extractive Metallurgy of Rare Earths, Second Edition. 2015. CRC Press.[2] D. Rodrigues, J. A. de Castro,. M. F. de Campos. Perspectives for Rare-Earth Magnets in Brazil. Proceedings of 23rd International Workshop on Rare Earth and Future Permanent Magnets and Their Applications REPM 2014, 2014, Annapolis, Maryland, USA. v. 1. p. 12-14.
[3] E. Morrice, T A. Henrie. Electrowinning high-purity neodymium, praseodymium, and didymium metals from their oxides [Washington, D.C.] U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, 1967.
[4] K. C.Karki, S. V. Patankar: Numerical Heat Transfer Vol. 14, (1988), pp. 295-307.
[5] M. C. Melaaen: Numerical Heat Transfer Vol 21, part B (1992), pp 1-19.