Mixed convection mass transfer studies of opposing and aiding flow in a parallel plate electrochemical flow cell

Abstract

Studies of combined natural and forced convection in a vertical parallel plate electrochemical cell in laminar conditions in cases of opposing and aiding flow are reported. In an ongoing project it was necessary to identify conditions in which natural convection had no significant influence on mass transfer rates at the cell walls so that data could be validly compared with purely laminar flow computational models. For the different electrode lengths investigated, natural convection dominated at low Reynolds number and there was no Reynolds number dependence. At high Reynolds number the data approached the laminar flow solution. At intermediate Reynolds number, however, there existed a distinct region where free and forced convection were significant. At high electrolyte concentrations data did not merge with laminar flow equations until Re=1000 and low electrolyte concentration data for the large plate could not be compared with numerical predictions below Re of 250. An attempt was made to compare the data with those of other workers on combined forced and natural convection heat and mass transfer.