Comparison of the Behavior of the FM01-LC Reactor with and without Turbulence Promoter Using CFD
Authors: Castañeda Ulloa Locksley Fabian , antaño Lopez Rene , Nava José Luis 
Published: February 2020

Abstract

Filter-press-type electrochemical reactors are the most common ones used in laboratory and industrial applications [1]. The FM01-LC is abundantly described in literature[2], where global and mass transport to electrodes [3-5], pressure drop and hydrodynamics [4] have been studied. However, these phenomena are still not fully understood.

Despite the work realized about modelling and Characterization of the FM01-LC reactor through residence time distribution, direct flow visualization, axial dispersion models and CFD, not yet submitted a study where comparing experimental and simulated data of the FM01-LC reactor including from physical manner the turbulence promoter in the flow simulation. In this way is considered the study of the comparison of the hydrodynamic behavior in the FM01-LC reactor by residence time distribution (RTD) and fluid visualitation (FV), this comparison made by experimental work and CFD, with and without turbulence promoter for both cases.

The flows studied were 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 Lpm, for both cases.

The results obtained for the RTD and CFD for the flows studied and with and without turbulence promoter shown that the model used (κ-ε) can predict the experimental behavior, because the graphics obtained are very similar, both in the graphic without turbulence promoter as with turbulence promoter and the results obtained for the FV and CFD for flows studied (0.5 Lpm) and with and without turbulence promoter is shown that the fluid behavior is very similar for both cases at time of 2 seconds. The best distribution of the fluid is observed with the turbulence promoter.

In conclusion the models used (κ-ε and convection diffusion) to predict the experimental behavior in the FM01-LC reactor functioned properly. It could also simulate the turbulence promoter from physical way obtaining similar values compared with the experimental data. The same way, in the FV the images have shown the same behavior of the flow inside of the reactor. In conclusion it can say that the κ-ε and the convection diffusion models can predict the behavior of the FM01-LC in the worked conditions. Besides using turbulence promoter a better fluid distribution is achieved.

It is important to mention that the simulation made with the turbulence promoter with CFD is new because the promoter is drawing from physical way, so this result can be more exact that if used another models to simulate the space occupied by the turbulence promoter.

References.

1. Bengoa, C., et al., Characterization and Modeling of the Hydrodynamic Behavior in the Filter-Press-Type FM01-LC Electrochemical Cell by Direct Flow Visualization and Residence Time Distribution. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2000. 39(7): p. 2199-2206.

2. F.C. Walsh and D. Robinson, Electrochemical Filter-Press Reactors, 1998.

3. Brown, C.J., et al., Studies of space-averaged mass transport in the FM01-LC laboratory electrolyser. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 1993. 23(1): p. 38-43.

4. Griffiths, M., C.P. de León, and F.C. Walsh, Mass transport in the rectangular channel of a filter-press electrolyzer (the FM01-LC reactor). AIChE Journal, 2005. 51(2): p. 682-687.

5. Brown, C.J., et al., Local mass transport effects in the FM01 laboratory electrolyser. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 1992. 22(7): p. 613-619.