Electrochemical Reaction with RedOx Electrolyte in Toroidal Conduits in the Presence of Natural Convection

Authors

Shizhi Qian, Old Dominion UniversityFollow
Zongyuan Chen, University of Pennsylvania
Jing Wang, University of Pennsylvania
Haim H. Bau, University of PennsylvaniaFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-2006

Publication Title

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

Volume

49

Issue

21-22

First page number:

3968

Last page number:

3976

Abstract

Transport processes in an upright, concentric, annular, electrochemical reactor filled with RedOx electrolyte solution are studied experimentally and theoretically. The electrodes form the two vertical surfaces of the reactor. The theoretical calculations consist of the solution of the Navier–Stokes and the Nernst–Planck equations accounting for species’ diffusion, migration, convection, and electrochemical reactions on the electrodes’ surfaces as a function of the difference in electrodes’ potentials and the average concentration of the electrolyte. Since the convection is driven by density gradients, the momentum and mass transport equations are coupled. The current transmitted through the electrolyte is significantly enhanced by natural convection. The current is measured as a function of the difference in the electrodes’ potentials. To obtain the reaction rate constants, an inverse problem is solved and the reaction rate constants are determined by minimizing the discrepancy between theoretical predictions and experimental observations. As an example, we study the reversible electrochemical reaction Fe⁺⁺⁺ + e⁻ = Fe⁺⁺ on platinum electrodes.

Keywords

Computational electrochemistry; Electrochemical reactor; Electrochemistry; Heat – Convection; Natural; Inverse problem; Mathematical models; Natural convection; Oxidation-reduction reaction; Rate constants estimation; RedOx

Disciplines

Chemical Engineering | Chemistry | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Heat Transfer, Combustion | Mechanical Engineering

Language

English

Permissions

Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the item. Publisher policy does not allow archiving the final published version. If a post-print (author's peer-reviewed manuscript) is allowed and available, or publisher policy changes, the item will be deposited.

Repository Citation

Qian, S., Chen, Z., Wang, J., Bau, H. H. (2006). Electrochemical Reaction with RedOx Electrolyte in Toroidal Conduits in the Presence of Natural Convection. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 49(21-22), 3968-3976.