Simulation of Current Distribution Under Turbulent Flow Conditions in a Laboratory Filter-Press Flow Cell

A theoretical analysis of primary, secondary and tertiary current distributions along a planar nickel electrode in a laboratory filter-press flow cell has been carried out using the reduction of Fe(CN)₆³⁻ ions in a sodium carbonate electrolyte as a model reaction system. The primary current distribution decreased at the inlet and outlet of the cell and became uniform away from the entrance and exit. The secondary current distribution predominated throughout the electrode; edge effects appearing only at the corners of the cell. The tertiary current distribution presented higher edge effects compared to those experienced under secondary current distribution due to jet flow at the inlet of the cell. The limiting current density incorporated numerically calculated local flow velocities under turbulent flow which were simulated by solving the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equation, expressed in terms of turbulent viscosity and a standard turbulence model.