Patent ID: 9732432
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: C25C

Claim:
1. A method for collecting and removal of acid mist from an electrolytic cell in a metal electrowinning process or in a metal electrorefining process, where an electric current is passed between a plurality of electrodes, from anodes to cathodes alternately arranged and submerged in electrolyte contained in a container having an open top, the method comprising: covering the open top of the container with a cover so that a space is formed between a surface of the electrolyte contained in the container and the cover, providing a decontamination system having an acid mist suction channel terminating in an upwards facing inlet opening in the space between the surface of the electrolyte contained in the container and the cover, and having suction means for sucking acid mist from the space between the surface of the electrolyte contained in the container and the cover, sucking acid mist from the space between the surface of the electrolyte contained in the container and the cover by means of the suction means of the decontamination system, providing a cleaning arrangement for spraying the upwards facing inlet opening of the acid mist suction channel with washing fluid to prevent the upwards facing inlet opening of the acid mist suction channel from being blocked, and spraying the upwards facing inlet opening of the acid mist suction channel with washing fluid by means of the cleaning arrangement to prevent the upwards facing inlet opening of the acid mist suction channel from being blocked, providing a cleaning arrangement having a fluid nozzle and a pipe for feeding washing fluid to the fluid nozzle, arranging the pipe and the fluid nozzle so that the pipe is at least partly located in the acid mist suction channel and so that the fluid nozzle is located at the upwards facing inlet opening of the acid mist suction channel, and spraying washing fluid at least downwards into the acid mist suction channel by means of the fluid nozzle of the cleaning arrangement.