MASS-TRANSPORT IN AN ELECTROCHEMICAL LABORATORY FILTERPRESS REACTOR AND ITS ENHANCEMENT BY TURBULENCE PROMOTERS

Space-averaged mass transport measurements are reported for a planar, 1 dm(2) Pt/Ti cathode in a divided filterpress reactor, using the redu ction of 0.05 M K3Fe(CN)(6) in a solution also containing 0.05 M K4Fe( CN)(6) and 1 M KOH at 298 K. In the case of the empty channel, mass tr ansport coefficient (k(m)) values ranged from 2.3 x 10(-6) to 2.7 x 10 (-5) m s(-1) over the volumetric flow rate range of 0.1 to 4.2 x 10(-4 ) m(3) s(-1). The use of eight different polymer mesh turbulence promo ters resulted in mass transport enhancement factors of 1.05 to 2.20 co mpared to the empty channel data at the same flow rate. Examination of the structure of the promoters allowed the mass transport enhancement factor to be related to a geometrical function of the promoters. Mass transport in this reactor is compared with that in other laboratory a nd pilot scale cells using Sherwood number vs. Reynolds number correla tions.