POROUS ELECTRODE THEORY ANALYSIS OF A VARIABLE-DEPTH, FLOW-BY POROUS ELECTRODE

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Abstract
A comparison has been made between a variable-depth and constant-depth, flow-by porous electrode in which a single metal ion deposition occurs in parallel with proton reduction. Porous-electrode theory was applied to calculate the reactor's performance under limiting-current and below limiting-current conditions. The thickness profile of the variable-depth electrode was calculated—as first suggested by Kreysa—by constraining the solution phase potential drop across the electrode to remain constant and independent of streamwise position. For each reactor configuration, identical electrolyte and electrode properties, processing rate, reactant conversion, and inlet thickness were assumed. Under this basis of comparison, the results show: the space-time yield of the constant-depth electrode is larger, but the variable-depth electrode better utilizes the separator's and counterelectrode's surface area; the power requirement of the variable-depth electrode is greater; and, the current efficiency is parameter dependent, but for the majority of the situations likely to be found in wastewater processing, that in the constant-depth electrode is slightly higher. A simple capital-cost analysis shows that the variable-depth electrode may be less expensive if the costs associated with the separator and counterelectrode are greater than those which scale with the electrode volume.