Mass transport in the rectangular channel of a filter-press electrolyzer (the FM01-LC reactor)

The mass transport characteristics of a laboratory-scale electrochemical reactor, the FM01-LC electrolyser, are investigated. The projected area of the electrode was 4 cm x 16 cm and the inter-electrode gap 0.55 cm. Space-averaged mass transport coefficients were calculated by measuring the limiting current for the reduction of ferricyanide ion in 1M sodium carbonate electrolyte at 29±2 oC at an activated, planar nickel electrode. The reactor was operated in the undivided mode at a controlled, mean linear electrolyte velocity in the range 5.2 - 22.1 cm s-1. The mass transfer coefficients within this range were 1.1 x 10-3 - 3.3 x 10-3 cm s-1 respectively. The effect of incorporating a polymer mesh turbulence promoter in the electrolyte channel on the mass transport rate and on pressure drop across the reactor was studied. Dimensionless correlations to describe the mass transport were established allowing comparisons with literature values.