Two-Phase Flow Modeling of Copper Electrowinning Using Bubbly Flow

Application ID: 75111


Copper electrowinning is the process of copper extraction from an electrolyte solution and its deposition at the cathode surface, by passing an external current through the electrolytic cell and using an insoluble anode. During the process, oxygen bubbles are generated at the anode surface leading to a large recirculation zone between anode and cathode surfaces, which requires two-phase flow modeling.

In the present model, charge and mass transports of ionic species are modeled using Tertiary Current Distribution, Nernst-Planck interface and the two-phase flow generated due to oxygen gas evolution at the anode surface is modeled using Bubbly Flow, Laminar Flow interface. The effect of two-phase flow on copper electrodeposition is demonstrated in the model.

This model example illustrates applications of this type that would nominally be built using the following products: