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Mass transfer in 3D-printed electrolyzers: The importance of inlet effects |
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| Authors: | Stéphane J C Weusten Luc C E M Murrer Matheus T de Groot John van der Schaaf |
| Affiliation: | 1. Laboratory of Chemical Reactor Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
Contribution: Formal analysis, ?Investigation, Methodology, Writing - original draft;2. Laboratory of Chemical Reactor Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands Contribution: Formal analysis, ?Investigation, Methodology;3. Laboratory of Chemical Reactor Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands |
| Abstract: | This article investigates the effect of inlet shape, entrance length, and turbulence promoters on mass transfer by using 3D-printed electrolyzers. Our results show that the inlet design can promote turbulence and lead to an earlier transition to turbulent flow. The Reynolds number at which the transition occurs can be predicted by the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the inlet to the cross-sectional area of the electrolyzer channel. A longer entrance length results in more laminar behavior and a later transition to turbulent flow. With an entrance length of 550 mm, the inlet design did no longer affect the mass transfer performance significantly. The addition of gyroid type turbulence promoters resulted in a factor of 2 to 4 increase in mass transfer depending on inlet design, entrance length, and the type of promoter. From one configuration to another, there was a minimal variation in pressure drop (<1600 Pa). |
| Keywords: | 3D printing electrochemistry mass transfer |
