Mathematical modeling of electrolyte circulation in cells with planar vertical electrodes. I: Electrorefining cells

A mathematical model has been developed for the turbulent recirculating flow within cells used for the electrorefining of metals. The flow under consideration is due to natural convection resulting from the enrichment of the electrolyte at the anode and its depletion at the cathode. Turbulence was incorporated by one of four turbulence models: thek‐∈ model, the low Reynolds number version of the model, the algebraic stress flux model, and a k‐l model. Velocities in a laboratory cell were determined using a laser‐Doppler velocimeter and compared with the model predictions. Velocities computed using the k‐l model showed reasonable agreement with measurements.