Characterization of a Multiple-Channel Electrochemical Cell by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Residence Time Distribution (RTD)

Abstract

Multiple-channel electrochemical cells are used for the electrocoagulation treatment of pollutants, but sometimes their use can be limited because of lack of knowledge of both hydrodynamic and current distribution performance. Most of the research devoted to electrocoagulation processes, do not present a preliminary hydrodynamic study of the selected cell. Thus, in this paper the importance of having a hydrodynamic characterization and current distribution analysis of a multi-channel electrochemical cell is highlighted. Studies of primary current distribution and, hydrodynamics were supported on applications of the COMSOL Multhiphysics{trade mark, serif} and FLUENT{trade mark, serif} software, respectively. The flow path was described by the residence time distribution (RTD) method. The current distribution analysis showed that a better distribution is obtained when an interelectrode gap of 3 cm is chosen. The RTD charts and the flow distribution described accurately channeling sections and stagnant zones that must be taken into account, since channeling reduce the entrapment of mud and stagnant zones promote the formation of clots.