A novel approach for computing tertiary current distributions based on simplifying assumptions

Abstract

A novel yet efficient method for the computation of simplified tertiary current density and surface concentration distributions in electrochemical processes is presented. The method is rooted in the important physiochemical property that the activation potential is constant and uniform for given electrode material during the electrolysis. The technique is attractive because it involves a single iterative procedure against the conventional doubly iterative procedure. The initial assumption of current distribution along the electrode is also not necessary, as it involves only an assumption of a suitable power series to solve steady state laminar convective diffusion. Accordingly the method is relevant only for electrodes of constant activation polarization, but this holds good for situations where the electrode configurations are such that the primary current density distribution is almost uniform and for situations where the Wagner number is high. To illustrate the utility of the technique the procedure is applied to some realistic problems encountered in electrochemical engineering such as the current distribution either in plane-parallel plate electrode with electrolyte flowing between them or a moving electrode with the electrolyte stationary.