Patent ID: 6998029

Claim:
An electrowinning system, comprising: (a) at least one electrowinning cell including a plurality of electrowinning anodes, a plurality of electrowinning cathodes, and electrolyte, at least one of said electrowinning anodes having thereon at least one electrocatalytically active coating susceptible to damage caused by reverse currents; (b) an electrowinning direct current power supply in circuit communication with said at least one electrowinning cell and providing an electrical output to said at least one electrowinning cell to cause said electrowinning cell to electrodeposit material; (c) a control unit in circuit communication with said electrowinning direct current power supply and monitoring at least one parameter of said electrowinning direct current power supply, said control unit automatically asserting an auxiliary power control signal responsive to the at least one parameter of said electrowinning direct current power supply meeting a predetermined criterion; and (d) at least one auxiliary power supply selectively providing an auxiliary electrical output to said at least one electrowinning cell responsive to the auxiliary power control signal from said control unit, the auxiliary electrical output being sufficient to maintain polarization of said at least one anode positive with respect to said at least one corresponding cathode.