Mass Transfer Characteristics Research Articles

Ultrasound‐Assisted Catalysis: A Pathway to Novel and Selective Chemical Transformations in Condensed Phase

AbstractIn this paper, we review the concept of synergistically using ultrasonic sonochemistry in combination with heterogeneous catalysis, to selectively perform condensed phase chemical transformations. Through specific examples, we highlight that ultrasound induced cavitation bubbles not only provide local high temperature and pressure conditions for initiating chemical reactions but also improves heat, mass and charge transfer characteristics in the system. We also show that sonocatalysis can alter reaction mechanisms and open new activation and reaction pathways that are not intuitive to thermocatalysis. Computational chemistry tools are introduced and are combined with sonocatalysis experimental studies to demonstrate that, in‐situ generated radicals propelled into the bulk liquid solution upon bubbles implosion can be stabilized by catalyst surfaces, while creating active sites for unique reactions during heterogeneous sonocatalytic chemistry. We also report recent examples of condensed phase sonocatalysis applications, including pollutant degradation, chemical and pharmaceutical synthesis and biomass upgrading, and provide mechanistic insights into the process.

Flow characteristics and mass transfer performance of phosphoric acid extraction in a T-type central plug-in microreactor

In recent years, the demand for phosphoric acid, a key raw material for lithium iron phosphate batteries, has surged. However, current phosphoric acid extraction equipment faces challenges such as low mass transfer efficiency and difficulty in phase separation, leading to reduced production efficiency, bulky equipment, and scaling issues. To address these problems, this study introduces a T-type central plug-in microreactor (TCPM) designed to enhance mass transfer efficiency and facilitate rapid phase separation. The extraction of phosphoric acid from the water phase to the organic phase (volume ratio of tributyl phosphate to kerosene is 4:1) was chosen as the experimental system. We investigated the effects of various parameters on liquid-liquid flow and mass transfer characteristics in the TCPM. Visualization techniques identified slug and parallel flow as the primary liquid-liquid flow patterns within the TCPM. Notably, the central plug-in promotes the formation of parallel flow, improving phase separation compared to conventional T-type microreactors. The volume mass transfer coefficient of the TCPM ranges from 0.023 to 0.074 s-1, and the optimal phosphoric acid extraction efficiency and volume mass transfer coefficient can reach up to 90.5% and 0.074 s-1, respectively, outperforming conventional T-type microreactors. Predictive model for extraction efficiency was developed, showing deviations within 10%. These findings demonstrate the TCPM's potential as an efficient phosphoric acid extraction device with rapid phase separation, holding significant promise for liquid-liquid extraction applications.

Computation of soret effect in sisko nanofluid flow over a stretching sheet encompassing chemical reaction and viscous dissipation

This article examines the characteristics of mass and heat transfer in Sisko fluid flow. The consideration is given to continuous, two-dimensional movement of Sisko fluid exhibiting incompressible and viscous characteristics. The fluid flows over a stretching sheet encompassing chemical reaction and subjected to the soret effect and viscous dissipation. The arising set of interconnected PDEs is converted to nonlinear ODEs using similarity transformations. This study reveals that an increase in the Soret number induces an upward shift in the concentration profile across the flow region. Also, an increase in the Sisko fluid parameter gives rise in the skin-friction coefficient. Following the calculations, the results for the heat, mass transfer rate and skin-friction coefficient, are compiled and presented in a tabulated form. A systematic discussion of similarity solutions in comparison with established findings not only validates the accuracy of the numerical results but also underlines the reliability and robustness of the methodology applied in this study.

The Phase Distribution Characteristics and Interphase Mass Transfer Behaviors of the CO2-Water/Saline System under Gathering and Transportation Conditions: Insights on Molecular Dynamics.

In order to investigate the interphase mass transfer and component distribution characteristics of the CO2-water system under micro-scale and nano-scale transport conditions, a micro-scale kinetic model representing interphase mass transfer in the CO2-water/saline system is developed in this paper. The molecular dynamics method is employed to delineate the diffusion and mass transfer processes of the system's components, revealing the extent of the effects of variations in temperature, pressure, and salt ion concentration on interphase mass transfer and component distribution characteristics. The interphase mass transfer process in the CO2-water system under transport conditions can be categorized into three stages: approach, adsorption, and entrance. As the system temperature rises and pressure decreases, the peak density of CO2 molecules at the gas-liquid interface markedly drops, with their aggregation reducing and their diffusion capability enhancing. The specific hydration structures between salt ions and water molecules hinder the entry of CO2 into the aqueous phase. Additionally, as the salt concentration in water increases, the density peak of CO2 molecules at the gas-liquid interface slightly increases, while the density value in the water phase region significantly decreases.

Experimental study on the mass transfer and microscopic distribution characteristics of remaining oil and CO2 during water-miscible CO2 flooding

Accurate understanding and quantitative characterization of the microscopic distribution and mobilization mechanisms of remaining oil are crucial for further enhancing oil recovery during CO2 flooding. In this study, miscible CO2 flooding experiments after water flooding were performed to investigate the mass transfer and microscopic distribution characteristics of remaining oil and CO2 using micro-computed tomography technique. Additionally, the distribution characteristics of multiphase fluids (oil, water and CO2) in the pores were comprehensively investigated. Furthermore, the mass transfer effects during the miscible CO2 flooding process, as well as the CO2 sequestration ratio (SR) and sequestration factor (SF) were systematically examined. The experimental results show that the ultimate oil recovery factor after miscible CO2 flooding were 80.9%, 70.7%, and 64.7%, respectively. During the water flooding stage, the produced oil mainly consisted of light hydrocarbons (C5-C16), followed by medium hydrocarbons (C17-C27). The remaining oil was mainly in cluster and network pattern, followed by multiple and oil film pattern. After miscible CO2 flooding, the produced gas mainly consisted of CO2 and CH4, with a significant increase in the mass fraction of light hydrocarbons (C5-C16) in the produced oil. The remaining oil was mainly in multiple and singlet pattern, followed by network and film pattern, with a small portion in cluster pattern. The higher the displacement rate, the smaller the SR, but most of the injected CO2 (SR > 70%) was retained in the porous media, demonstrating the feasibility of CO2 geological sequestration during the miscible flooding process.

Experimental and numerical simulation study on the mass transfer characteristics of static flash evaporation

Due to the short duration and intense nature of static flash evaporation, and limited by the measurement methods, there is still limited understanding of the inhomogeneous characteristics of mass transfer within the waterfilm. This paper studies the spatiotemporal variation of mass transfer characteristics during static flash using experimental and numerical simulation methods. The formation and evolution mechanism of the bubble layer is analyzed, and its impact on the spatial distribution of temperature within the waterfilm is explained. Firstly, it was found that during the flash process, the temperature difference at different heights of the waterfilm first increases and then decreases. Secondly, during the flash process, there is a maximum value of the vapor generation rate within the waterfilm along the height direction of the flash chamber, and there is a spatial inconsistency between the vapor generation rate and the superheat distribution. Thirdly, reducing the initial waterfilm height can improve the consistency between the maximum superheat and the maximum volume fraction, resulting in a higher vapor generation rate per unit mass and an earlier peak appearance. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of flash mass transfer and provides ideas for the future enhancement of flash evaporation.

Fluidized-bed OCM reaction: A promising Mn2O3-Na2WO4/TiO2 catalyst and a numerical study

The fluidized-bed reactor with excellent heat and mass transfer features has great appeal for application in the oxidative coupling of methane (FB-OCM), whereas qualified fluid catalysts represent a grand challenge. Herein, we report a high-performance Mn2O3-Na2WO4/TiO2 fluid catalyst (5.4 wt% Mn2O3 and 2 wt% Na2WO4), which was obtained by the incipient-wetness impregnation method and examined in the OCM reaction in an electric-heating quartz fluidized-bed reactor (i.d., 2 cm). The standard normalization method on the basis of carbon atom was used for calculating the CH4 conversion and C2-C3 selectivity. This catalyst achieves 35.5 % CH4 conversion, 66 % C2-C3 selectivity and particularly 15.1 % single-pass yield of C2H4 for a feed of CH4/O2/H2O=3/1/1 with a catalyst dosage of 20 mL at 700 °C and a total GHSV of 7200 h−1. Such catalyst is stable for at least 50 h without signs of deactivation and agglomeration/defluidization. The catalyst particle size is crucial for the FB-OCM reaction with respect to the reaction light-off and catalyst fluidization. The catalyst with preferable particle size of 450–600 μm can not only trigger the OCM reaction at a relatively low temperature of 630 °C but also warrant active bubbling fluidization. Furthermore, thanks to the low amount of Na2WO4 and interpenetrating structure of TiO2-nanorod, such catalyst achieves good anti-aggregation and robust mechanical strength (with a low attrition index of 1.9 %). The effects of water-adding amount in feedstock and catalyst particle size distribution on the hydrodynamics behaviour were investigated in a laboratory-scale fluidized-bed OCM reactor by using numerical simulation method.

Effect of surfactant type and concentration on the gas-liquid mass transfer in biotrickling filters used for air pollution control

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted into the atmosphere negatively affect the environment and human health. Biotrickling filtration, an effective technology for treating VOC-laden waste gases, faces challenges in removing hydrophobic VOCs due to their low water solubility and therefore limited bioavailability to microorganisms. Consequently, the addition of (bio)surfactants has proven to be a promising strategy to enhance the removal of hydrophobic VOCs in biotrickling filters (BTFs). Yet, up to now, no single study has ever performed a mass transfer characterization of a BTF under (bio)surfactants addition. In this study, the effect of (bio)surfactant addition on the gas-liquid mass transfer characteristics of two BTFs was measured by using oxygen (O2) as a model gas. Through an empirical correlation, the mass transfer coefficients (kLa) of two hydrophobic VOCs, toluene and hexane, which are of industrial and environmental significance, were estimated. One BTF was filled with expanded perlite, while the other with a mixture of compost and wood chips (C+WC). Both BTFs were operated under different liquid velocities (UL: 0.95 and 1.53 m h-1). Saponin, a biological surfactant, and Tween 80, a synthetic surfactant, were added to the recirculating liquid at different critical micelle concentrations (CMCs: 0 - 3 CMC). The higher interfacial and surface area of the perlite BTF compared to the C+WC BTF led to higher kLaO2 values regardless of the operational condition: 308±18 - 612±19 h-1 versus 42±4 - 177±24 h-1, respectively. Saponin addition at 0.5 and 1 CMC had positive effects on the perlite BTF, with kLaO2 values two times higher compared to those at 0 CMC. Tween 80 exhibited a neutral or slightly positive effect on the mass transfer of both BTFs under all conditions. Overall, the CMC, along with the physical characteristics of the packing materials and the operational conditions evaluated explained the results obtained. This study provides fundamental data essential to improve the performance and design of BTFs for hydrophobic VOCs abatement.

Comparative numerical study featuring magnetized nanofluids configured by elongating sheet with thermophoresis and Brownian motion

This study investigates the heat and mass transfer characteristics of MHD rotating Fe₃O₄-Al₂O₃/H₂O hybrid nanofluid flow over a three-dimensional stretching surface. Comparative analysis was conducted among the base fluid H₂O, Al₂O₃-H₂O nanofluid, and Fe₃O₄-Al₂O₃/H₂O hybrid nanofluid, focusing on velocity, temperature, and concentration distributions influenced by thermophoresis, Brownian motion, Hall current, temperature ratio, magnetic parameter, rotation, and thermal radiation. The governing nonlinear partial differential equations were transformed into ordinary differential equations using similarity adaptations and solved numerically with the BVP-5C method in MATLAB. Results indicate that increasing the thermophoresis and Brownian motion parameters elevates the temperature profile while affecting the concentration distribution differently. The hybrid nanofluid exhibited a higher temperature distribution compared to the nanofluid and base fluid, whereas the base fluid showed a greater concentration gradient.

Refrigerant charge estimation method based on data-physic hybrid-driven model for the fault diagnosis of transcritical CO2 heat pump system

The transcritical CO2 heat pump system is a promising and excellent heating scheme. However, the operating pressure of the transcritical CO2 heat pump system is high, and refrigerant leakage is a frequent problem. It is worth noting that the operating principle of CO2 heat pump systems is unique. Thus, conventional refrigerant charge estimation methods for subcritical systems cannot be directly applied to transcritical systems. In this study, a novel refrigerant charge estimation method for the transcritical CO2 heat pump system is proposed. Based on the heat and mass transfer characteristics of the transcritical system, the grey box model constrained by physical laws is constructed. Based on the machine learning algorithm, the correction model of the grey box model is built. The hybrid model combines the advantages of the high generalization ability of the physic-driven model and the nonlinear fitting ability of the data-driven model. The results show that the novel estimation method can accurately predict the refrigerant charge, enabling fault diagnosis of refrigerant leakage. The data-driven correction model can improve the prediction accuracy of the grey box model. The Mean Relative Error of the hybrid-driven model can be controlled within 5 %.

A numerical study of heat and mass transfer characteristic of three-dimensional thermally radiated bi-directional slip flow over a permeable stretching surface

Within fluid mechanics, the flow of hybrid nanofluids over a stretching surface has been extensively researched due to their influence on the flow and heat transfer properties. Expanding on this concept by introducing porous media, the current study explore the flow and heat and mass transport characteristics of hybrid nanofluid. This investigation includes the effect of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) with chemical reaction, thermal radiation, and slip effects. The nanoparticles, copper, and alumina are combined with water for the formation of a hybrid nanofluid. Using the self-similar method for the reduction of Partial differential equations (PDEs) to the system of Ordinary differential equations (ODEs). These nonlinear equation systems are solved numerically using the bvp4c (boundary value solver) technique. The effect of the different physical non-dimensional flow parameters on different flow profiles such as velocity, temperature, concentration, skin friction, Nusselt and mass transfer rate are depicted through graphs and tables. The velocity profiles diminish with the effect of magnetic and slip parameters. The temperature and concentration slip parameters reduce the temperature and concentration profile respectively. The higher values of magnetic factor lessened the skin friction coefficient for both slip and no-slip conditions. An elevation in the thermal slip parameter reduced the boundary layer thickness and the heat transfer from the surface to the fluid. The Nusselt number amplified with the climbing values of the radiation parameter. The mass transfer rate depressed with the solutal slip parameter. Comparison is made with the published work in the literature and there is excellent agreement between them.

Quantitative analysis of heat and mass transfer in MoS2-Al2O3/EG hybrid flow between parallel surfaces with suction/injection by numerical modeling of HPM method

This description focuses on how the magnetic field affects mass and heat transfer in a hybrid nanofluid (Hnf) between two parallel, rotating plates. By dispersing aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanoparticles (NPs) in ethylene glycol (EG), a hybrid nanofluid (Hnf) is created. This research aims to analyze the heat and mass transfer characteristics in the flow of a hybrid nanofluid (MoS2-Al2O3/EG) between two rotating parallel plates under the influence of a magnetic field. Furthermore, the statistical technique of response surface methodology (RSM) has been employed to optimize the parameters of velocity, temperature, and concentration of the nanofluid within the flow region bounded by the rotating plates. Dimensionless differential equations have been calculated and checked using the Homotopy perturbation method. This study introduces a novel approach by utilizing the RSM method to identify optimal points for velocity and temperature parameters of nanofluids between two stretching plates for the first time. Additionally, the article innovatively applies the exact HPM method to validate dimensionless linear and non-linear coupling equations. As the Reynolds number and the suction/injection coefficient of nanofluids flowing between two plates under tension increase, the results indicate a decrease in the velocity field. This decrease in velocity field can be attributed to the reduction in fluid diffusion as viscous forces diminish with varying Reynolds numbers. The ideal temperature distribution for nanofluids flowing between two parallel plates occurs when they are uniformly dispersed at the midpoint between them. As the distance from the initial point of nanofluid entry to the end of the plates increases, along with the vertical distance from the bottom plate, the temperature gradient diminishes, reducing the thickness of the thermal boundary layer. The velocity gradient and the rate of heat flux transfer between the nanofluid and plate rise by 34 % when the volume percentage is raised from 1 % to 5 %.

Gas–liquid mass-transfer characteristics during dissolution and evolution in quasi-static and dynamic processes

This study aims to understand the comprehensive behavior of the gas–liquid flow and dissolution–evolution mass transfer. A quasi-static closed-tank experiment was designed to measure the static mass-transfer coefficients of the dissolution and evolution processes using the diffusion equation. After a detailed uncertainty analysis, a dynamic ventilated-pipe experiment with different-sized orifice plates was designed to illustrate the relationship between the hydrodynamic parameters, physical structure, and gas–liquid mass-transfer characteristics. The results showed that, as the static pressure and liquid-level height increase, both the dissolution and evolution coefficients exhibit increasing trends. However, when the physical condition reaches the initial state after pressurization and depressurization, the gas absorbed by the solution cannot completely evolve from the solution; that is, the dissolution rate is always greater than or equal to the evolution rate. For the equal-diameter pipe, as the gas flow rate increases, the concentration increment decreases slightly after reaching the peak, owing to the reduction in mass-transfer time caused by the increase in liquid flow rate. In particular, the maximal dissolved concentration, an increment of 210.9 %, occurred in the double large-orifice plate with the ventilated condition, far exceeding the maximum value in the quasi-static process. Moreover, the concentration under the layout of two small-orifice plates decreases slightly, and the larger gas content enables the solution to have more gas nuclei, making it easier to induce the gas evolution. The current study provides guidance for the gas–liquid-mixture transportation and improvement of the dissolved efficiency.

Simulation study on heat and mass transfer characteristics within tubular moving bed heat exchangers

In the field of waste heat recovery, tubular moving bed heat exchangers (MBHEs) hold great promise as equipment capable of effectively handling large-sized granular materials with high temperature. To further clarify the heat and mass transfer characteristics within tubular MBHEs, this study firstly conducted detailed investigations on the contributions of different heat transfer mechanisms. The result shows that heat radiation (∼45 %) and gas film heat conduction (∼42 %) control the heat transfer processes involving tube walls, with an inlet particle temperature of 600 °C, tube wall temperature of 50 °C, and particle descent velocity of 2 mm/s. These contributions can be influenced by the inlet particle temperature and the tube wall temperature, rather than the particle descent velocity. Additionally, for a specific particle, its heat transfer state is highly depended on where it is located. Subsequently, the time-varying and space-varying characteristics of the heat transfer processes involving tube walls are studied. The results suggest that the time-varying and space-varying characteristics are inherent in tubular MBHEs due to the difficulty to achieve complete stability. Meanwhile, temporal fluctuations intensify with an increase in the inlet particle temperature, a decrease in wall temperature, or an increase in particle descent velocity. The result of power spectral density (PSD) indicates that the heat transfer processes exhibit a degree of chaotic behavior due to the nonlinear property of sub-models, as well as the randomness in particle feeding and contacts. The space-varying characteristic is mainly determined by the inlet particle temperature and the tube wall temperature, rather than the particle descent velocity. This characteristic can be observed in both the axial and circumferential directions, with the circumferential variation being more pronounced than the axial variation. Furthermore, a double-tube MBHE, a topic that has received scant attention in previous research, is investigated in comparison to a single-tube MBHE to explore the differences in heat and mass transfer between the two configurations. It indicates that under the same boundary conditions, there are differences in heat transfer results, which are attributed to the interactions between two vertically arranged tubes. These interactions are reflected in the reconstruction of particle flow patterns and the effect altering the temperature distribution for the particles or fluid surrounding the tubes. The obtained results provide valuable insights into the mass and heat transfer behaviors of particles and fluids within tubular MBHEs, laying a foundation for advancing the development of efficient tubular MBHEs.

Study of electric field-enhanced mass transfer and Li/Mg separation of N, N-bis (1-methylheptyl) acetamide/TBP-NaFeCl4 composite membrane

Using N,N-bis(1-methylheptyl)acetamide (N503) synergized with TBP-NaFeCl4 (TFe), a ternary composite extraction membrane known as TFeN-PIM was created. Under optimum membrane phase conditions, the mass transfer properties of TFeN-PIM-Li(Ⅰ) and its Li/Mg selective separation performance by electric field augmentation were examined, and confirmed the mechanism of TFeN-PIM-Li(Ⅰ) electric field enhanced mass transfer. The findings demonstrate a homogeneous distribution of [FeCl4-] in the TFeN-PIM membrane phase and a decrease in the water contact angle as the TFe content increases. In the TFeN-PIM membrane, the cation binding order of the composite carrier was H+>Li+>Na+>Mg2+, and the mass transfer was carried out at the interface of the two phases of the membrane through the mechanism of "cation exchange-neutralization", in which Li(Ⅰ) was bonded with the carrier in the form of 2N503-LiFeCl4-2TBP, and showed a fixed-site "hopping" mass transfer characteristics under the reinforcement of electric field. The mass transfer process of the TFeN-PIM- Li(Ⅰ) system under electric field enhancement conforms to the first-order kinetic rate equation, and the voltage (5–45 V) is positively correlated with the permeability coefficient PLi(Ⅰ) but decreases the Li/Mg selectivity of TFeN-PIM. The SLi(Ⅰ)/Mg(Ⅱ) of TFeN-PIM was 9.18 at 3 V. After three cycles of 72 h cycling at 40 V, the decrease rate of PLi(Ⅰ) was <7.42 %, which showed good stability.

Experimental and modeling study of CO2 capture by phase change blend of triethylenetetramine-ethanol solvent

Post combustion Carbon capture based on chemical absorption is the best-known technology to reduce CO2. Recently, attention has been paid to biphasic solvents due to their excellent potential in reducing energy consumption. This study investigated carbon dioxide absorption by biphasic non-aqueous triethylenetetramine (TETA)-ethanol solvent in a T-shaped microchannel. Effect of four parameters including: concentration of TETA (4–8 wt%), liquid flow (2–5 ml/min), inlet CO2 concentration (5–20 vol%) and gas flow (100–175 ml/min) have been examined. Mass transfer characteristics has been assessed by investigation of absorption percentage, molar flux and overall mass transfer coefficient. The results show that increasing the concentration of amine diminishes all three responses by increasing the solution viscosity. As a result, it decreases the penetration of CO2 in the solution and the rate of absorption.Furthermore, the TETA-ethanol phase change solvent has been compared with aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA). The results of this comparison indicated that the efficiency of CO2 absorption and mass transfer coefficient, for TETA-ethanol biphasic solvent are higher than MEA solvent, respectively. Finally, the dimensionless Damköhler number (Da) was utilized in the new correlation to predict KLa for CO2 absorption into TETA-Ethanol solution with acceptable accuracy.

Development of Pseudo-Homogeneous Three-Dimensional Reaction Anode Structure for Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis

Solid Polymer Electrolyte (SPE) diaphragm such as Nafion🄬 has been applied to proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) due to the high efficiency and response. The structure of PEMWE consists of a catalyst layer, diffusion layer, current collector, flow-field, etc. In addition to the membrane, these elements and structural parameters were adapted from the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) technology due to the time series factors in the development process and are still strongly influenced by that technology today. Although PEMFC technology is applied to these elements in PEMWE, the material composition, structure, and various parameters are not fully optimized, and the basic structure and technology are diverted from various PEMFC conditions, although the main object of fluid has greatly changed from the gas phase to the liquid phase. As the above background, PEMWE technology needs to go back to the basic level of structural design, mainly from the viewpoint of mass transfer, and reconstruct the component structure.In this study, we focused on the mass transfer characteristics that most affect the performance of PEMWE and investigated a new structure for gas-liquid two-phase fluids for the electrode structure, which is the most important element of PEMWE.Figure 1 shows the two and three-dimensional reaction electrode structures in PEMWE. Figure 1(a) is the electrode structure of a conventional general PEMWE, which is the catalyst reaction in the catalyst layer on the rate-limiting electrode side proceeds in a heterogeneous two-dimensional reaction area. In this current method, sufficient diffusion cannot be maintained from the viewpoint of mass transfer, which leads to performance decrease due to the inability to remove obstacles such as bubbles to mass transport to the catalyst layer. Figure 1 (b) shows the pseudo-homogeneous three-dimensional reaction electrode structure developed in this study. The catalyst is supported on the porous current collector itself. This structure dramatically increases the reaction area from two-dimensional to three-dimensional, and it is expected to greatly improve electrolytic performance by optimizing various parameter conditions.The experimental was performed as following. The anode catalyst IrOx was synthesized from H2IrCl6-nH2O and NaNO3 by the Adams method1). Catalyst Ink, which mixed with the synthesized catalyst and Nafion🄬 dispersion solution, was dropped onto a Ti-web current collector and dried. The anode catalyst loading current collector was evaluated in a 1 cm2 component evaluation electrolyzer2).In this development, the essential issue is the establishment of the conditions to support the catalyst in the three-dimensional reaction area and to maintain the supply path of the proton from the SPE membrane efficiently.References T. Saida, S. Hirano, E. Niwa, F. Sato, and M. Maruyama, ECS Trans., 85, 865 (2018). K. Nagasawa, T. Ishida, H. Kashiwagi, Y. Sano, S. Mitsushima, Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, 46, 36619 (2021). Figure 1

Energy Efficiency of Steady DC and Half Sine Pulsed DC in the High Voltage Pre-Plasma and Plasma Alkaline Water Electrolysis

The research addresses the contrasting views on the energy efficiency of alkaline water electrolysis using the regular DC vs the pulsed DC. We compare the high voltage steady DC electrolysis with the high voltage half-wave rectified (HWR) AC (or the half Sine pulsed DC, an unexplored form of the pulsed DC) across a wide range of voltage regimes, with a particular focus on the less explored Plasma electrolysis (PE) regime. In addition, the current-voltage characteristics are mapped across the voltage regimes (NE to PE) using a novel high-voltage 3-electrode circuit, which allows better control over the working electrode potential. The experimental design considers critical parameters such as energy efficiency, Faradaic efficiency, and current density, providing a comprehensive evaluation of the regular DC Vs. the half-wave rectified AC electrolysis.Pulsed electrolysis can facilitate bubble removal and ensure timely replenishment of reactant during the low-bias phase and this is expected to diminish over potential losses due to mass transfer resistance. However, the preliminary energy efficiency assessment suggests that the regular DC is ~13% higher at 33 V bias and ~24% higher at 26.5 V bias than the half sine pulsed DC(50 Hz) electrolysis. This suggests that for these particular reaction conditions, the fluctuations in the current leading to reactive losses in the circuit and other internal losses overwhelm any enhancement in the mass transfer characteristic of pulsed electrolysis. The study also points to regimes where significant thermal decomposition results in a significant increase in the apparent Faradaic efficiency.

Inverse design of V-shape feed spacer for batch and semi-batch reverse osmosis

In recent years, batch and semi-batch reverse osmosis (RO) processes have received wide attention because of their internal staging feature. However their performance is severely compromised by salt retention induced by incomplete flushing, which leads to elevated salt concentration, uplifted peak pressure, and extra power consumption. Herein we adopt transient 3-D computational fluid dynamics to systematically analyze the effect of the V-shape feed spacer geometries on hydrodynamics and mass transfer characteristics. After a sensitivity analysis of all geometric parameters, a heuristic optimization framework is proposed for inverse design of the feed spacer. Using the optimized feed spacer, flushing efficacies after one displacement volume are 0.936, 0.962, 0.969 and 0.974 respectively for one, three, five and seven membrane elements connected in series (whereas 0.884, 0.926, 0.942 and 0.952 for commercial spacers), which help to mitigate membrane scaling and fouling. Moreover, the optimized spacer has a pressure drop per meter 73 % lower than that of the commercial spacer. If used in conjunction with high permeability membranes, batch RO and semi-batch RO could save 29.9 % and 24.1 % specific energy consumption relative to conventional one-stage seawater RO.

Discharge and mass transfer characteristics of atmospheric pressure gas-solid two-phase gliding arc

In this work, a gas-solid two-phase gliding arc discharge (GS-GAD) reactor was built. Gliding arc was formed in the gap between the blade electrodes, and solid powder was deposited on the sieve plate positioned beneath the blade electrodes. A range of experimental parameters, including the inter-electrode spacing, gas flow rate, applied voltage, and the type of the powder, were systematically varied to elucidate the influence of solid powder matter on the dynamics of gliding arc discharge (GAD). The discharge images were captured by ICCD and digital camera to investigate the mass transfer characteristics of GS-GAD, and the electrical parameters, such as the effective values of voltage, current, and discharge power were record to reveal the discharge characteristics of GS-GAD. The results demonstrate that powder undergoes spontaneous movement towards the upper region of the gliding arc due to the influence of electric field force. Increasing the discharge voltage, decreasing relative dielectric constant of the powder and reducing the electrode-to-sieve-plate distance all contribute to a greater involvement of powder in the GAD process, subsequently resulting in an enhanced powder concentration within the GAD region. Additionally, powder located beneath the gliding arc experiences downward resistance caused by the opposing gas flow and arc. Excessive gas flow rate notably hampers the powder concentration within the discharge region, and the velocity of powder motion in the upper part of the GAD region is reduced. Under the condition of electrode-to-sieve-plate distance of 30 mm, gas flow rate of 1.5 L/min, and peak-to-peak voltage of 31 kV, the best combination of arc gliding and powder spark discharge phenomena can be achieved with the addition of Al2O3 powder.