Vapour-liquid slip in a parallel-plate electrochemical fluorination reactor

Abstract

A mathematical model was used to study the effect of slip between the gas and liquid phases on the performance of an electrochemical fluorination reactor. The model incorporates two-phase flow with differential material, energy and pressure balances. The effect of slip on the temperature, pressure, gas fraction and current distribution in the reactor is presented under relatively severe operating conditions. In addition, the effect of slip on the cell voltage, current efficiency and energy usage is shown at different flow rates over a wide current range. It was found that slip of the gas past the liquid is insignificant under normal operating conditions, but it is significant at high cell currents and low flow rates. Under these more severe operating conditions, slip significantly reduces the cell voltage, and hence the energy usage, since less gas resides in the reactor.