Abstract
This paper focuses on mass transfer characteristics of classical filter-press electrochemical reactors without membranes. In the tested configuration, the working electrode consists of a lane plate with a sheet of foam and the counter-electrode consists of a plane plate with a turbulence promoter. The global mass transfer coefficients of the two electrodes have the same order of magnitude. Moreover, a comparison with literature data shows that their values remain in the range of those previously presented. Due to the high specific surface area of the foam used (A ve, = 6400 m−1), the ratio of the surface area of the working electrode to that of the counter electrode is 15. The electroreduction of ferricyanide has been carried out to test the performance of this configuration. The value of the final conversion has been compared to that calculated from mass transfer coefficients and surface areas of the electrodes.
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Abbreviations
- A ve :
-
dynamic specific surface area of the foam: surface area per volume of material (m−1)
- A′ve :
-
dynamic specific surface area of the electrode consisting of a plate and a sheet of foam: surface area per volume of electrode (m−1)
- A vs :
-
static specific surface area (m−1)
- C in :
-
ferricyanide concentration at the inlet of the cell (mol m−3)
- C out :
-
ferricyanide concentration at the outlet of the cell (molm−3)
- D :
-
diffusion coefficient (m2 s−1)
- d h :
-
equivalent hydraulic diameter, dh = 2lh (l + h)−1 (m)
- F :
-
Faraday number (C mol−1)
- h :
-
channel thickness (m)
- I :
-
limiting diffusion current (A)
- I c a :
-
final limiting diffusion current intensity at the anode (A)
- I cf :
-
final limiting diffusion current intensity at the cathode (A)
- k a :
-
mass transfer coefficient at the anode (m s−1)
- k c :
-
mass transfer coefficient at the cathode (ms−1)
- k d :
-
mass transfer coefficient (m s−1)
- l :
-
channel width (m)
- n :
-
number of electrons in the electrochemical reaction
- Q v :
-
volumetric flow rate in the channel (m3 s−1)
- Re :
-
Reynolds number, Re = U 0 d h v −1
- S :
-
active surface area of the electrode (m2)
- S a :
-
surface area of the anode (m2)
- S c :
-
surface area of the cathode (m 2)
- S c :
-
Schmidt number, Sc = v D −1
- Sh :
-
Sherwood number, Sh = k d D h/D
- U 0 :
-
superficial velocity (m s−1)
- V :
-
volume offered to fluid flow in the volumic electrode (m3)
- V′:
-
volume of one tank reactor in the cascade (m3)
- X :
-
conversion
- X f :
-
final conversion
- ε:
-
porosity
- v :
-
kinematic viscosity (m2 s−1)
- ρ:
-
density (kg s−1)
- τ:
-
residence time in a continuous stirred tank reactor τ = ′ε/Q v (s)
References
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Montillet, A., Comiti, J. & Legrand, J. Application of metallic foams in electrochemical reactors of the filter-press type: Part II Mass transfer performance. J Appl Electrochem 24, 384–389 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00254149
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00254149