A method for extracting uranium with a coupling device of wind power generation and uranium extraction from seawater includes the following steps: adding oxygen vacancy (OV)-containing In.sub.2O.sub.3-x to absolute ethanol, and subjecting a resulting mixture to stirring and ultrasonic treatment to obtain a solution of In.sub.2O.sub.3-x in absolute ethanol; coating the solution uniformly on carbon cloth, and drying to obtain carbon cloth coated with OV-containing In.sub.2O.sub.3-x; inserting the coated carbon cloth (as a working electrode) and another blank carbon cloth (as a counter electrode) into a plastic carrier of a coupling device; fixing a small wind power generation apparatus above the plastic carrier, and connecting the working electrode and the counter electrode to a storage battery of the apparatus via wires; and placing the coupling device in seawater, and after the storage battery is charged, energizing the working electrode and the counter electrode to extract uranium from the seawater.

The invention relates to an electrode assembly for an electrochemical process comprising a current supply element comprising at least one recessed hole; at least one current distribution bar comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being releasably arranged at the at least one recessed hole; and an electrode substrate arranged at the at least one current distribution bar. The current distribution bar comprises a core and an outer layer, the core being completely covered by the outer layer. The invention also relates to a method of restoring the electrode substrate of the electrode assembly without removing the electrode substrate from the at least one current distribution bar.

The invention relates to an electrode assembly for an electrochemical process comprising a current supply element comprising at least one recessed hole; at least one current distribution bar comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being releasably arranged at the at least one recessed hole; and an electrode substrate arranged at the at least one current distribution bar. The current distribution bar comprises a core and an outer layer, the core being completely covered by the outer layer. The invention also relates to a method of restoring the electrode substrate of the electrode assembly without removing the electrode substrate from the at least one current distribution bar.

Systems and methods for the recovery of noble metal from noble-metal-containing material are generally described. Certain embodiments related to systems and methods in which an electric current is transported between an electrode and the noble metal of a noble-metal-containing material to dissolve at least a portion of the noble metal from the noble-metal-containing material. The dissolved noble metal can subsequently be precipitated out of solution and recovered, according to certain embodiments. Noble metals can be recovered from any suitable noble-metal-containing material, including plated and/or filled scrap materials and/or other materials.

Systems and methods for the recovery of noble metal from noble-metal-containing material are generally described. Certain embodiments related to systems and methods in which an electric current is transported between an electrode and the noble metal of a noble-metal-containing material to dissolve at least a portion of the noble metal from the noble-metal-containing material. The dissolved noble metal can subsequently be precipitated out of solution and recovered, according to certain embodiments. Noble metals can be recovered from any suitable noble-metal-containing material, including plated and/or filled scrap materials and/or other materials.

A short-circuit mitigation device for use in an electrolytic cell (101) is disclosed. The device comprises a switch (302) connected in parallel with a damping load (502). The switch is disposed between a contact (102) and an electrode (106) of the cell (101) to selectively provide an electrical conduction path between the contact and the electrode. The switch comprises a plurality of metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) (402) connected in parallel. The device further comprises a switch controller (306) operably associated with the switch (302) to monitor electric current (308) through the switch and to generate a toggle signal (309) to toggle the switch (302) from a conductive closed state to a non-conductive open state when the electric current exceeds a first threshold value.

An electrolyte flow regulator device and system that eliminates electrode edge strips, preferably cathodes edge strips, by obstructing the passage of the rich electrolyte to be electrodeposited and by the electrical isolation caused by the side walls of the device in the area where the edge strip was originally arranged, being able to obtain edges of an electrode without electrodeposition.

An electrolyte flow regulator device and system that eliminates electrode edge strips, preferably cathodes edge strips, by obstructing the passage of the rich electrolyte to be electrodeposited and by the electrical isolation caused by the side walls of the device in the area where the edge strip was originally arranged, being able to obtain edges of an electrode without electrodeposition.

A system for controlling an electrochemical production process includes a variable controllable power circuit and an electrolytic cell. The cell includes two electrodes and operates in different states dependent on the potential difference across the electrodes. The system includes a power circuit controller that causes the power circuit to apply a given potential difference across the electrodes to initiate operation of the cell in the one of multiple possible states associated with the given potential difference. The possible states include a production state associated with a first non-zero potential difference in which a product of interest is produced, and an idle state associated with a second non-zero potential difference in which the product of interest is not produced. A monitoring and control subsystem maintains a predefined set of production process conditions, including a predefined operating temperature range, while the cell operates in both the production state and the idle state.

A system for controlling an electrochemical production process includes a variable controllable power circuit and an electrolytic cell. The cell includes two electrodes and operates in different states dependent on the potential difference across the electrodes. The system includes a power circuit controller that causes the power circuit to apply a given potential difference across the electrodes to initiate operation of the cell in the one of multiple possible states associated with the given potential difference. The possible states include a production state associated with a first non-zero potential difference in which a product of interest is produced, and an idle state associated with a second non-zero potential difference in which the product of interest is not produced. A monitoring and control subsystem maintains a predefined set of production process conditions, including a predefined operating temperature range, while the cell operates in both the production state and the idle state.