This report presents the findings of the pilot studies on the impact of Intermittent Dynamic Electrowinning on metal production.
Report extract
In early 2019, Element 25 Ltd (E25) approached ARENA and was awarded a grant to cover a project to determine the applicability of the use of renewable energy within the production of Electrolytic Manganese Metal (EMM). This program, Pilot Studies for Intermittent Dynamic Electrowinning using Renewable Energy, was approved utilising Murdoch University (Murdoch) as the research partner.
The project was proposed in 3 phases:
Phase 1, was conducted in two parts:
- Part a) Was the determination of optimal EMM electrolytic operating parameters in a laboratory environment; &
- Part b) Was the determination of the impacts that power supply fluctuations both positive and negative had on the electrowinning process.
Phase 2, Was the collection of 12 months of solar radiance and wind data from the Butcherbird Mine site. This work happened concurrently with Phase 1.
Phase 3, was to be a full-scale evaluation of the production of EMM using the real-world power supply based on results of Phase 2 data