Faster bipolar capacitive deionization with flow-through electrodes

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is an emerging technology in water cleaning applications. Bipolar electrode modules are promising for upscaling CDI systems by applying a high voltage over a stack of cells. Previous experiments indicate around 3 times faster removal rate can be achieved with a 5-cell stack of flow-between electrodes. In this work, we present the first flow-through bipolar CDI design. Surprisingly, the effective average salt adsorption rate (ASAR) of a 5-cell stack was around 10 times higher per electrode mass. The flow through design allows for faster ion transport to match the higher charging rate. Also, the floating electrodes discharge near-instantaneous by internal short-circuit upon the removal of potential, leaving almost twice as much time for charging in a cycle. Resistance is lowered due to the removal of internal compartments in the design, and the benefits of flow-through devices outweigh any potential higher energy cost of mass transport. The high voltage at the extreme electrodes poses a risk of electrode oxidation but optimized device operation controls this risk by constraining the voltage locally. For the same reason, the device is best adapted for the deionization of moderate to low ionic concentrations, such as river water, well water, or municipal water. In summary, this work provides a simpler yet highly effective way of scaling up CDI for water-cleaning applications.

Automated summary

In this study, a flow-through bipolar CDI design is presented, which significantly improves salt adsorption rate and ion transport compared to previous designs. The removal of internal compartments lowers resistance, resulting in advantages that outweigh the potential energy cost.