10,000 TPA Copper EW Plant in Africa

precision technology

10,000 TPA Copper EW Plant in Central Asia

Sichuan Precision Technologies has designed a 10,000 TPA copper electrowinning (EW) plant. The design aims to safely and efficiently produce high-purity cathode copper from copper sulfate solution using an effective electrowinning process. This project highlights our ability to deliver a complete, customized design that considers site conditions and uses our advanced techniques, including patented technologies.

Process Flow Sheet

Basic Parameters

No.	Description	Unit	Qty	Remark
1	Dc output voltage	V	120
2	Dc output current	KA	35
3	Cathode copper capacity	t/a	10000
4	Current design Density	A/m²	260	Operating @250~300A/m2
6	Time efficient	%	92
7	Current efficient	%	90
9	Cell voltage	V	1.9~2.1
10	Pitch	mm	100
11	Cycle time	day	6~8
12	Anodes number	Pcs/cell	55
13	Cathodes number	Pcs/cell	54
	Cathodes deposit area	M2	2.04	Both sides
14	Circulation flowrate	l/min*cell	100	Electrolyte
15	Work days	d/a	330

Description of Equipment Configuration

1. Calculation of the Number of EW Cells

Capa- City	Work Days	Capa- City	Deposit Area	Current Density	Cathode No.	Current	C*E	T*E	Product	Cells Need	Cells No.
tpa	d/a	t/d	m2	A/m2	pcs/cell	A			t/cell.d	cells	cells
10000	330	30.30	2.04	260	54	28642	0.9	0.92	0.62	48.62	50

2. Configuration of Rectifier

1 set of rectifier SCR (including the transformer) is adopted.
Output DC current Max.: 2.04 m²/cathode × 54 cathodes/cell × 300 A/m² = 33,048 A.
Output DC Voltage Max: 2.2 V × 50 = 110 V.
The output of the rectifier is set as: 120 V × 35 kA.

3. Stainless Steel Cathode

Use the S.S. 316L cathode.
Deposit area is 2.0 m²; 45 pcs/cell.

4. Lead Anode

Component:
Pb>99%; Sn: 0.8%; Ca: 0.04~0.08%.

5. Electrowinning Cell

Material: Polymer Concrete
L5800xW1180 x H 1450 in which 54/55 cathodes/anodes can be put.

6. Circulation Pump

The circulation flow rate is 100 L/min per cell at a maximum current density of 260 A/m², with a Cu²⁺ concentration drop of less than 5 g/L, which is acceptable. One pump is in operation, and one pump is kept as a spare. The flow rate is 330 m³/h, with a head of 13 m.

7. Cathode Stripping Machine

One cathode washing and stripping machine adoped. For 10,000 tpa capacity of cathode copper, it works about 2.5h per day at the speed of 250 cathodes plates per hour stripped. It receives the cathodes from the overhead crane then washing, stripping, stacking and weighing the copper bundles. The blank plates after stripping are then transferred to conveyor at 3 times as the pitch(300mm) for the bale handling and are back to the cell for next cycle. It also can have the bundling and sampling function if the cost is not care.