A Study of the Impact of Power Supply Parameters on Metal Flow Velocity in the Channel of a Device for Washing out Precious Metals from of the Automotive Catalytic Converters

Abstract The lifetime of a catalytic converters is limited. Today’s environmental regulations require that used converters should be properly recycled as a valuable source of precious metals, Al2O3 and steel scrap. The precious metals used in the devices perform catalytic functions. They are suspended in a ceramic or metal carrier. This paper deals with the recovery of precious metals from automotive converters using a metal-collector method. In order to speed up the washout of the precious metals from the capillary structure of the converter, the movement of the liquid metal-collector was forced by the electromagnetic field. The research was aimed at improving the effective velocity of the liquid metal flow through the carrier by means of a device with a double windings. Various ways of power supply were considered. The calculation experiment was performed as a weakly coupled analysis of the electromagnetic field and flow field.

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Model of Infiltration of Spent Automotive Catalysts by Molten Metal in Process of Platinum Metals Recovery

Mathematical Problems in Engineering ◽

10.1155/2013/461085 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Agnieszka Fornalczyk ◽

Slawomir Golak ◽

Mariola Saternus

Keyword(s):

Electromagnetic Field ◽

Molten Metal ◽

Metal Flow ◽

Precious Metals ◽

Automotive Catalysts ◽

Catalyst Carrier ◽

Metals Recovery ◽

Spent Catalysts ◽

Hydrodynamic Field ◽

The Impact

This paper presents the model for the washing-out process of precious metals from spent catalysts by the use of molten lead in which the metal flow is caused by the rotating electromagnetic field and the Lorentz force. The model includes the coupling of the electromagnetic field with the hydrodynamic field, the flow of metal through anisotropic and porous structure of the catalyst, and the movement of the phase boundary (air-metal) during infiltration of the catalyst carrier by the molten metal. The developed model enabled analysis of the impact of spacing between the catalysts and the supply current on the degree of catalyst infiltration by the molten metal. The results of calculations carried out on the basis of the model were verified experimentally.

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Modelling Methods of Magnetohydrodynamic Phenomena Occurring in a Channel of the Device Used to Wash out Spent Automotive Catalyst on Metallic Substrate by a Liquid Metal

Materials Science Forum ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.879.566 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 879 ◽

pp. 566-571

Author(s):

Agnieszka Fornalczyk ◽

Roman Przylucki ◽

Sławomir Golak ◽

Mariola Saternus

Keyword(s):

World Literature ◽

Precious Metals ◽

Coupled Analysis ◽

Computational Techniques ◽

Catalytic Converters ◽

Advantages And Disadvantages ◽

Spent Catalysts ◽

Physical Fields ◽

Modelling Methods ◽

Temperature And Flow Fields

The recovery of precious metals is necessary for environmental and economic reasons. Spent catalysts from automotive industry containing precious metals are very attractive recyclable material because as the devices. they have to be periodically renovated and eventually replaced. Among automotive catalysts withdrawn from use, these with metallic carrier constitute quite a big group. Metallic carriers are usually obtained from steel FeCrAl , which is covered by a layer of PGM acting as a catalyst. World literature describes a number of pyro-or hydrometallurgical methods used for recovery of platinum from used automobile catalytic converters. However, all methods, available in the literature, are used to recover platinum from ceramic carrier. This paper presents the new method of removing platinum from the spent catalytic converters applying lead as a collector metal in a device used to wash out platinum by using mangetohydrodynamic pump. The article includes the description of the methods used in modelling magnetohydrodynamic phenomena (coupled analysis of the electromagnetic, temperature and flow fields) occurring in this particular device for this kind of waste. The general phenomena and ways of coupling the various physical fields for this type of calculation have also been described. The basic computational techniques with a discussion of their advantages and disadvantages have been presented.

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Modelling Methods of Magnetohydrodynamic Phenomena Occurring in a Channel of the Device Used to Wash Out the Spent Automotive Catalyst by a Liquid Metal

Archives of Metallurgy and Materials ◽

10.1515/amm-2016-0122 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 61 (2) ◽

pp. 713-718

Author(s):

A. Fornalczyk ◽

R. Przylucki ◽

S. Golak ◽

J. Willner

Keyword(s):

Liquid Metal ◽

Automotive Industry ◽

Precious Metals ◽

Coupled Analysis ◽

Computational Techniques ◽

Advantages And Disadvantages ◽

Spent Catalysts ◽

Physical Fields ◽

Modelling Methods ◽

Temperature And Flow Fields

AbstractThe recovery of precious metals is necessary for environmental and economic reasons. Spent catalysts from automotive industry containing precious metals are very attractive recyclable material as the devices have to be periodically renovated and eventually replaced. This paper presents the method of removing platinum from the spent catalytic converters applying lead as a collector metal in a device used to wash out by using mangetohydrodynamic stirrer. The article includes the description of the methods used for modeling of magnetohydrodynamic phenomena (coupled analysis of the electromagnetic, temperature and flow fields) occurring in this particular device. The paper describes the general phenomena and ways of coupling the various physical fields for this type of calculation. The basic computational techniques with a discussion of their advantages and disadvantages are presented.

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