Battery-Less Industrial Wireless Monitoring and Control System for Improved Operational Efficiency

An industrial wireless monitoring and control system, capable of supporting energyharvesting devices through smart sensing and network management, designed for improving electrorefinery performance by applying predictive maintenance, is presented. The system is self-powered from bus bars, and features wireless communication and easy-to-access information and alarms. With cell voltage and electrolyte temperature measurements, the system enables real-time cell performance discovery and early reaction to critical production or quality disturbances such as short-circuiting, flow blockages, or electrolyte temperature excursions. Field validation shows an increase in operational performance of 30% (reaching 97%) in the detection of short circuits, which, thanks to a neural network deployed, are detected, on average, 10.5 h earlier compared to the traditional methodology. The developed system is a sustainable IoT solution, being easy to maintain after its deployment, and providing benefits of improved control and operation, increased current efficiency, and decreased maintenance costs.The authors would like to thank the Technological Corporation of Andalusia (CTA) and Atlantic Copper S.L.U. company for funding this research under projects 19/1008 and 22/1077

The behavior of tellurium during copper ore processing at the American Smelting and Refining Company (Tucson, AZ)

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2016Essentially all tellurium (Te), an element used in solar panels and other high technology devices, is recovered as a byproduct of copper mining. Recent increases in demand have sparked questions of long-term supplies of Te (crustal abundance ~3 μg∙kg-1). As part of a larger study investigating Te resources, this project examines the behavior of Te during Cu ore mining, smelting, and refining at the American Smelting and Refining Company (Tucson, AZ) as a first step toward optimizing Te recovery. Mass balance calculations estimate that only 4 ± 1% of the Te in the ore reports to the Cu anodes, while 60 ± 30%, 0.8 ± 0.2% and 5.8 ± 0.4% is lost in the tailings, slag, and dust, respectively. The uncertainties reported are the standard deviation of analytical measurements, but due to heterogeneity of Te distribution in the ore, the actual uncertainty is likely higher. Microprobe data shows that Te in the concentrate is mainly present as telluride minerals, but substitution into sulfides most likely also occurs. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) mapping showed that Te is collocated with S in the raw anode slimes, pressed anode slimes, and doré furnace soda slag. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was used to examine Te speciation in anode slimes. It was found that Te oxidizes during the Cu ore smelting process, with 44% Te4+ in the flash furnace SO₂ filter. Te also showed 32% Te4+ in the raw and pressed anode slimes. The doré furnace soda slag and dust filter showed the most oxidation of Te at 57% Te4+ and 60% Te6+ respectively. These results indicate several points in the extraction process that could be examined further to determine if additional Te might be recovered from the overall process.Chapter 1 Introduction -- 1.1. What is Tellurium? -- 1.2. Tellurium End Uses and Market -- 1.3. Global Supply of Tellurium -- 1.4. Tellurium Scarcity and Criticality -- 1.5. Current Copper Extraction Process -- 1.5.1. Copper Mining -- 1.5.2. Copper Smelting -- 1.5.3. Copper Refining -- 1.6. Tellurium Byproduct Recovery -- 1.6.1. Mineralogy of Tellurium in Ore Deposits -- 1.6.2. Behavior of Tellurium during Copper Concentration -- 1.6.3. Behavior and Mineralogy of Tellurium in Copper Anodes and Anode Slimes -- 1.6.4. Extraction of Tellurium as a Copper Byproduct -- 1.7. Research Objectives -- Chapter 2. Site Description -- 2.1. The Mines -- 2.2. The Smelter -- 2.3. The Refinery -- Chapter 3. Methods -- 3.1. Sample and Standard Collection, Preparation, and Preservation -- 3.2. Elemental Analysis -- 3.2.1. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry -- 3.2.1.1. Method Development of Sodium Peroxide Sinter -- 3.2.1.2. Sample Preparation for ICP-MS -- 3.2.1.3. ICP-MS Elemental Analysis -- 3.2.2. Wavelength Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence -- 3.2.2.1. Sample Preparation and Analysis of WD-XRF -- 3.3. Mass Balance Calculations -- 3.4. X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy -- 3.4.1. Bulk S XAS -- 3.4.1.1. Bulk S XAS Collection -- 3.4.1.2. S XAS Data Analysis -- 3.4.1.3. S Linear Combination Fitting -- 3.4.2. Bulk Te XAS -- 3.4.2.1. Bulk Te XAS Collection -- 3.4.2.2. Te XAS Data Analysis -- 3.4.2.3. Te Linear Combination Fitting -- 3.5. Microfocused X-Ray Fluorescence Map Collection and Analysis -- 3.5.1. Experimental Conditions -- 3.5.2. Map Analysis -- 3.6. Electron Microprobe Analysis -- 3.6.1. Experimental Conditions -- Chapter 4. Results -- 4.1. Method Development and Verification -- 4.2. Elemental Analysis of Samples -- 4.3. Mass Balance -- 4.4. X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy -- 4.4.1. Sulfur -- 4.4.2. Tellurium -- 4.5. Micro-focused X-Ray Maps -- 4.6. Electron Microprobe Analysis -- Chapter 5. Discussion -- 5.1. Mass Balance -- 5.2. Mine -- 5.3. Smelter -- 5.4. Refinery -- Chapter 6. Conclusions -- 6.1. Future Directions -- References

Renewable energy in copper production: A review on systems design and methodological approaches

Renewable energy systems are now accepted to be mandatory for climate change mitigation. These systems require a higher material supply than conventional ones. Particularly, they require more copper. The production of this metal, however, is intensive in energy consumption and emissions. Therefore, renewable energy systems must be used to improve the environmental performance of copper production. We cover the current state of research and develop recommendations for the design of renewable energy systems for copper production. To complement our analysis, we also consider studies from other industries and regional energy systems. We provide six recommendations for future modeling: (a) current energy demand models for copper production are overly simplistic and need to be enhanced for planning with high levels of renewable technologies; (b) multi-vector systems (electricity, heat, and fuels) need to be explicitly modeled to capture the readily available flexibility of the system; (c) copper production is done in arid regions, where water supply is energy-intensive, then, water management should be integrated in the overall design of the energy system; (d) there is operational flexibility in existing copper plants, which needs to be better understood and assessed; (e) the design of future copper mines should adapt to the dynamics of available renewable energy sources; and (f) life cycle impacts of the components of the system need to be explicitly minimized in the optimization models. Researchers and decision-makers from the copper and energy sector will benefit from this comprehensive review and these recommendations. We hope it will accelerate the deployment of renewables, particularly in the copper industry

Energy. A continuing bibliography with indexes, issue 36, January 1983

This bibliography lists 1297 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system from October 1, 1982 through December 31, 1982

Photovoltaic energy systems: Program summary fiscal year 1983

An overview of government funded activities in photovoltaic energy conversion research is given. Introductory information, a list of directing organizations, a list of acronyms and abbreviations, and an index of current contractors are given

Energy storage for complementary services in grid-tied PV systems

The continuous increase in penetration of renewable-based power plants together with the intermittent and variable nature of those natural resources have made grid stability issues a major concern, imposing limitations to higher penetration rates. Energy Storage Systems (ESS) have arise as an enabling technology capable of providing PV/ESS configurations with additional capabilities, as such as ancillary or complementary services. This work presents a complete analysis of three difierent complementary services (Maximum Power Ramp Rate limitations, Power Clipping and Peak Shaving). Additionally two different PV/ESS configurations are analysed. For that purpose, three different power converter interfaces between PV and ESS were tested. The results obtained from those tests, showing the performance of the aforementioned complementary services, are presented in this thesis. Moreover, the experimental validation of a PV/ESS, which consists of a full bridge based partial power converter as power interface between PV system and ESS, is also presented in this document. This document also includes two different ESS sizing strategies, each for an specific complementary service. These sizing strategies rely on a prediction of a year of PV power generation obtained from annual measurements of irradiance and temperature. In both cases, the resulting power prediction is contrasted against a desired power profile

A Comprehensive Guide to Solar Energy Systems With Special Focus on Photovoltaic Systems

This book, the most advanced and research focused text on all aspects of solar energy engineering, is a must have edition on the present state of solar technology, integration and worldwide distribution. In addition, the book provides a high-level assessment of the growth trends in photovoltaics and how investment, planning and economic infrastructure can support those innovations. Each chapter includes a research overview with a detailed analysis and new case studies that look at how recent research developments can be applied. Written by some of the most forward-thinking professionals, this book is an invaluable reference for engineers. Key Features Contains analysis of the latest high-level research and explores real world application potential in relation to developments Uses system international (SI) units and imperial units throughout to appeal to global engineers Offers measurable data written by a world expert in the field on the latest developments in this fast moving and vital subject Readership Energy engineers, researchers, graduate students, professors and lecturers in Engineering, scientists and engineers working in energy, industrialists and engineers working in future energy development