C. Bengoa et al., FLOW VISUALIZATION AND MODELING OF A FILTER-PRESS TYPE ELECTROCHEMICAL REACTOR, Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 27(12), 1997, pp. 1313-1322
A study of flow visualization and residence time distribution is provi
ded in order to model the flow between two electrodes in a commercial
filter-press reactor, the ElectroSynCell(R) from Electrocell AB. Flow
visualization indicates that both axial and lateral dispersion phenome
na occur and a global plug flow behaviour is observed. The flow distri
bution is asymmetric due to the design of the inlet system in the acti
ve zone. The flow throughout the cell is described by a dispersed plug
flow model for which the mean residence time and the Peclet number ar
e determined. The reaction area and the inlet system are separately an
alysed by locating conductimetric probes inside the electrochemical ce
ll. The reaction area is also well described by a dispersed plug flow
model, and characterized by high dispersion. The inlet system is, resp
ectively, described by a dispersed plug flow model and by a cascade of
continuous stirred tank reactors. The high number of reactors in the
cascade denotes a quasi plug flow behaviour. The results are confirmed
by two cascades of continuously stirred tank reactors in series. The
dispersion coefficients obtained throughout the reaction area of the c
ell are not constant. This shows that the flow is not well established
at the entrance of the reaction zone and depends on the entrance cond
itions.