EP-4737617-A1 - METAL PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND METAL PROCESSING METHOD USING SAME

EP4737617A1EP 4737617 A1EP4737617 A1EP 4737617A1EP-4737617-A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a metal processing apparatus, comprising: an electrolytic bath having a reaction space and forming a liquid metal to be tapped; a level measuring unit for measuring the level of the liquid metal by using an electrical signal; a tapping unit for tapping the liquid metal; and a control unit for controlling the tapping unit on the basis of the measurement result of the level measuring unit.

Inventors

RYU, HONG YOUL
KIM, KI HONG
WOO, HWA YOUNG

Assignees

KSM Technology Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20240626

Claims (15)

A metal processing apparatus, comprising: an electrolytic bath having a reaction space and forming a liquid metal to be tapped; a level measuring unit for measuring a level of the liquid metal by using an electrical signal; a tapping unit for tapping the liquid metal; and a control unit for controlling the tapping unit on the basis of a measurement result of the level measuring unit.
The metal processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reaction space includes the liquid metal and a liquid electrolyte, the liquid electrolyte includes at least two components, and the control unit controls the tapping unit to selectively and intermittently tap only the liquid metal from the reaction space.
The metal processing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the reaction space includes a first layer including the liquid metal, and a second layer positioned above the first layer and including the liquid electrolyte.
The metal processing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the liquid metal is formed by reducing a metal oxide through electrowinning.
The metal processing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the liquid metal includes neodymium.
The metal processing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the liquid electrolyte includes LiF and NdF 3 , and the liquid electrolyte includes LiF and NdF 3 in a weight ratio of 5:95 to 40:60.
The metal processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrolytic bath includes a cathode, and an anode surrounding the cathode, at least a portion of the cathode and the anode are positioned in the reaction space, and the level measuring unit measures a voltage between the cathode and the anode.
The metal processing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the cathode includes at least one of tungsten, molybdenum, and iron, and the anode includes graphite.
The metal processing apparatus of claim 7, wherein a receiving space recessed to receive the liquid metal is formed below the reaction space, an end of the cathode faces the receiving space, the tapping unit is connected to the receiving space, the receiving space has a first level that prevents the liquid metal from being positioned outside the receiving space and a second level that prevents the liquid electrolyte from being tapped during the tapping and is lower than the first level, and the control unit controls the tapping unit so that a level of the liquid metal in the receiving space is maintained between the first level and the second level.
The metal processing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the tapping unit includes a heating means and a cooling means, the control unit performs the tapping by combining operation of the heating means and operation of the cooling means, the tapping unit includes a first portion connected to the receiving space and having a cross-sectional area that narrows toward a lower portion, and a second portion connected downward from the first portion and having a constant cross-sectional area, the heating means includes an induction coil of a high-frequency induction heating method, and the cooling means includes a nozzle through which a cooling gas passes.
The metal processing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the tapping unit includes a first section connected to the receiving space and having a cross-sectional area that narrows toward the lower portion, a second section positioned below the first section, a third section positioned below the second section, a first heating means for heating the first section, a cooling means for cooling the second section, and a second heating means for heating the third section.
The metal processing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the control unit turns on the first heating means and the second heating means to tap the liquid metal when the voltage is lower than a first value, the control unit turns off the first heating means and turns on the cooling means to stop the tapping of the liquid metal when the voltage reaches a second value higher than the first value, and the second heating means operates for a predetermined period of time after the tapping of the liquid metal has stopped, and then turns off.
The metal processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an ingot manufacturing unit for manufacturing the liquid metal tapped through the tapping unit into an ingot shape, wherein the ingot manufacturing unit includes a first space in an argon (Ar) atmosphere, positioned below the tapping unit and including a receiving container for storing the liquid metal tapped through the tapping unit, a second space positioned at a front end of the first space and configured to insert the receiving container into the first space, and a third space configured to cool the receiving container delivered from the first space and discharge the receiving container to the outside, and the ingot manufacturing unit further includes a receiving container transport unit configured to transport the receiving container along the first space, the second space, and the third space.
A metal processing method, comprising: supplying a metal oxide and a liquid electrolyte to a reaction space of an electrolytic bath, thereby forming a liquid metal to be tapped from the metal oxide through electrowinning; measuring a level of the liquid metal using an electrical signal; and controlling tapping of the liquid metal based on a result of the level measurement, wherein only the liquid metal is selectively and intermittently tapped from the reaction space through the tapping control.
The metal processing method of claim 14, wherein the tapping control is performed by controlling a tapping unit that taps the liquid metal to the outside and includes a heating means and a cooling means, and the control is performed by a combination of operation of the heating means and operation of the cooling means.

Description

Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a metal processing apparatus and a metal processing method using the same. Background Art Due to the expansion of the hybrid and electric vehicle markets, demand for permanent magnets, a key component, is gradually increasing. In a Nd-Fe-B magnet having the most efficient of the existing permanent magnets, neodymium (Nd) accounts for most of the cost. Metal processing using electrowinning and a metal processing method using the same are being performed to obtain neodymium from neodymium oxide. However, the existing neodymium manufacturing process using electrowinning suffers from the problem of the lack of automation in the process of tapping neodymium (Nd) generated in an electrolytic bath to the outside of the electrolytic bath. Disclosure Technical Problem An object of the present disclosure is to provide a metal processing apparatus and a metal processing method using the same. Technical Solution A metal processing apparatus of the present disclosure includes: an electrolytic bath having a reaction space and forming a liquid metal to be tapped; a level measuring unit for measuring a level of the liquid metal by using an electrical signal; a tapping unit for tapping the liquid metal; and a control unit for controlling the tapping unit on the basis of a measurement result of the level measuring unit. The reaction space may include the liquid metal and a liquid electrolyte, the liquid electrolyte may include at least two components, and the control unit may control the tapping unit to selectively and intermittently tap only the liquid metal from the reaction space. The reaction space may include a first layer including the liquid metal, and a second layer positioned above the first layer and including the liquid electrolyte. The liquid metal may be formed by reducing a metal oxide through electrowinning. The liquid metal may include neodymium. The liquid electrolyte may include LiF and NdF3. The liquid electrolyte may include LiF and NdF3 in a weight ratio of 5:95 to 40:60. The electrolytic bath may include a cathode, and an anode surrounding the cathode, at least a portion of the cathode and the anode may be positioned in the reaction space, and the level measuring unit may measure a voltage between the cathode and the anode. The cathode may include at least one of tungsten, molybdenum, and iron, and the anode may include graphite. A receiving space recessed to receive the liquid metal may be formed below the reaction space, an end of the cathode may face the receiving space, and the tapping unit may be connected to the receiving space. The receiving space may have a first level that prevents the liquid metal from being positioned outside the receiving space and a second level that prevents the liquid electrolyte from being tapped during the tapping and is lower than the first level, and the control unit may control the tapping unit so that a level of the liquid metal in the receiving space is maintained between the first level and the second level. The tapping unit may include a heating means and a cooling means, and the control unit may perform the tapping by combining operation of the heating means and operation of the cooling means. The tapping unit may include a first portion connected to the receiving space and having a cross-sectional area that narrows toward a lower portion, and a second portion connected downward from the first portion and having a constant cross-sectional area. The tapping unit may include a first section connected to the receiving space and having a cross-sectional area that narrows toward the lower portion, a second section positioned below the first section, a third section positioned below the second section, a first heating means for heating the first section, a cooling means for cooling the second section, and a second heating means for heating the third section. The heating means may include an induction coil of a high-frequency induction heating method, and the cooling means may include a nozzle through which a cooling gas passes. The control unit may turn on the first heating means and the second heating means to tap the liquid metal when the voltage is lower than a first value, the control unit may turn off the first heating means and turn on the cooling means to stop the tapping of the liquid metal when the voltage reaches a second value higher than the first value, and the second heating means may operate for a predetermined period of time after the tapping of the liquid metal has stopped, and then turn off. The metal processing apparatus may further include an ingot manufacturing unit for manufacturing the liquid metal tapped through the tapping unit into an ingot shape. The ingot manufacturing unit may include a first space in an argon (Ar) atmosphere, positioned below the tapping unit and including a receiving container for storing the liquid metal tapped through the tapping unit, a second space positioned at a fro