CFD simulation of biphasic flow, mass transport and current distribution in a continuous rotating cylinder electrode reactor for electrocoagulation process

The mass transport performance of Al3+ ion is responsible for the production of the coagulant inside the electrocoagulation reactor, and therefore, the contaminants removal depends on it. Similarly, the hydrogen gas generation in the counter electrode affects the performance of the reactor due to the resistivity generated in the solution and the biphasic fluid dynamics. The proposed model solves simultaneously the secondary current distribution, the mass transport of aluminum and hydrogen, and the momentum transfer of a turbulent biphasic system in a continuous rotating cylinder electrode reactor coupled with two sedimentation tanks. The theoretical analysis for this system revealed well-mixed conditions and a cuasi-uniform current distribution in the RCE reactor due to the geometrical design and the low quantities of hydrogen gas produced at the different current values studied in this work. Meanwhile, slow flow velocities and dead zones were observed inside the sedimentation tanks. Also, comparisons between experimental, and theoretical Al3+ concentrations under stationary regime are also presented, founding good correlation. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All tights reserved.