Energy Conversion and Management, Vol.43, No.3, 383-397, 2002
Mass transfer enhancement during electrolysis with cylindrical electrodes by magnetic field exposure and its dependency on electrode positions
Electrolytic mass transfer rates under diffusion-controlled conditions were extensively measured for cylindrical cathodes in various positions relative to applied horizontal and static magnetic field using the limiting current technique with electrochemical reduction of Fe(CN)(6)(3-) with an excess of supporting electrolyte. To establish a more generalized dimensionless regression equation for the mass transfer coefficient, the modification of the equivalent diameter in relevant dimensionless parameters was discussed based on flows induced around cylinders. The resulting experimental data were well correlated by modifying the diameter d to d/(cos theta cos alpha), where theta is the inclination angle of the cathode from the horizon and alpha is the depth angle from the magnetic field direction. Similar experiments for a alpha = pi /2 were also carried out under further extensive experimental conditions as a limiting case of the preceding one and the obtained data were well correlated by additionally introducing the new term of "aspect ratio of cathode" in the regression equation and using the characteristic length d/(sin theta) or L in the relevant dimensionless parameters, Sherwood number, Rayleigh number and magneto-diffusion factor, where L is the cathode length.