Heat transfer model for electrochromatography in transverse electric field

Abstract

Joule heating caused by electric currents is a major problem in scale-up electrochromatography. Here, to predict the temperature effects of lateral electric field electrochromatography and the process conditions required, a mathematical heat transfer model was established, which took into account the physical characteristics, including the electrical conductivity, of the porous medium and the ceramic plate in the gel chamber. The temperatures calculated using this model were within 4 °C of the experimentally measured results. For the lateral enlargement simulation of short columns (4 cm), it was found that when the width was enlarged to > 3 cm, the outlet temperature on the center line did not increase with increasing width. The electric field strength of 1700 V/m was maintained by increasing current strength according to the column size; further, when the gel chamber was enlarged to 0.075 × 0.075 × 0.1 m3, its internal temperature can be controlled within 16 °C under certain operating conditions, and an electric field strength of 1700 V/m can be obtained in the gel chamber.