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Editors' Choice - Critical Review - The Bipolar Trickle Tower Reactor: Concept, Development and Applications

Editors' Choice - Critical Review - The Bipolar Trickle Tower Reactor: Concept, Development and Applications
Editors' Choice - Critical Review - The Bipolar Trickle Tower Reactor: Concept, Development and Applications
The concept of a trickle tower, using ordered bipolar electrode elements stacked in (10 to 80) similar layers of porous, 3D electrodes separated by insulating separator meshes is described and key features of electrochemical reactors based on the bipolar trickle tower reactor (BTTR) geometry are reviewed. Fluid flow, mass transfer, active area and bypass current are considered in detail, since they affect the reaction environment. Modified reactor designs have resulted from the process of electrode selection and tower construction. The performance of BTTRs is illustrated by examples from laboratory and industry, including electrosynthesis and environmental treatment. Experimental data are used to rationalise reaction environment and simulate performance. Operational factors such as electrolyte flow, mass transport rates and volumetric electrode area are highlighted as important factors in achieving high efficiency; minimisation of internal bypass currents is critical. Developments have enabled improvements in reactor construction and a wider choice of electrode material. Future R & D needs are highlighted.
bipolar electrode, three-dimensional electrode, cell design, electrode material, reaction environment
0013-4651
Walsh, Frank
309528e7-062e-439b-af40-9309bc91efb2
Arenas Martinez, Luis Fernando
6e7e3d10-2aab-4fc3-a6d4-63a6614d0403
Ponce De Leon Albarran, Carlos
508a312e-75ff-4bcb-9151-dacc424d755c
Walsh, Frank
309528e7-062e-439b-af40-9309bc91efb2
Arenas Martinez, Luis Fernando
6e7e3d10-2aab-4fc3-a6d4-63a6614d0403
Ponce De Leon Albarran, Carlos
508a312e-75ff-4bcb-9151-dacc424d755c

Walsh, Frank, Arenas Martinez, Luis Fernando and Ponce De Leon Albarran, Carlos (2021) Editors' Choice - Critical Review - The Bipolar Trickle Tower Reactor: Concept, Development and Applications. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 168 (2), [023503]. (doi:10.1149/1945-7111/abdd7a).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The concept of a trickle tower, using ordered bipolar electrode elements stacked in (10 to 80) similar layers of porous, 3D electrodes separated by insulating separator meshes is described and key features of electrochemical reactors based on the bipolar trickle tower reactor (BTTR) geometry are reviewed. Fluid flow, mass transfer, active area and bypass current are considered in detail, since they affect the reaction environment. Modified reactor designs have resulted from the process of electrode selection and tower construction. The performance of BTTRs is illustrated by examples from laboratory and industry, including electrosynthesis and environmental treatment. Experimental data are used to rationalise reaction environment and simulate performance. Operational factors such as electrolyte flow, mass transport rates and volumetric electrode area are highlighted as important factors in achieving high efficiency; minimisation of internal bypass currents is critical. Developments have enabled improvements in reactor construction and a wider choice of electrode material. Future R & D needs are highlighted.

Text
BTTR Review Walsh et al. 13-11-2020 PURE pre-corrections - Accepted Manuscript
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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 18 January 2021
e-pub ahead of print date: 9 February 2021
Published date: 9 February 2021
Additional Information: Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s). Published on behalf of The Electrochemical Society by IOP Publishing Limited.
Keywords: bipolar electrode, three-dimensional electrode, cell design, electrode material, reaction environment

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 446713
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/446713
ISSN: 0013-4651
PURE UUID: 7c9cf2bc-30cf-4cb5-98f1-eeb9e1eeefef
ORCID for Carlos Ponce De Leon Albarran: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-1907-5913

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 18 Feb 2021 17:33
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:01

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