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Design of electrochemical reactors via a sequential factorial costing technique

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Abstract

A simplified procedure for the design of electrochemical reactors based on Lang factors as a general strategy for assigning priorities in the assessment of costs and relative importance of process parameters is described. The importance of reactor geometry and its sensitivity to variation in cost components is illustrated by a specific industrial-scale design of a rotating bipolar cell equipped with wiper blades. The technique is applicable to any type of electrochemical cell.

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Abbreviations

a c :

electrode cost per unit area of electrode

A T :

total plant cost

A S :

total plant cost, assuming standard materials and construction

C c :

base delivery cost of a single cell

C e :

cost of special machining and electrode materials per single cell

C i :

installed capital cost

C m :

base delivery cost of motors

C o :

cost of major equipment made of standard material (carbon steel)

C p :

base delivery cost of pumps

C p1, Cp2 :

cost of a.c. power required for electrolyte circulation in the two RBE compartments

C r :

base delivery cost of the total number of required rectifiers

C rm :

cost of raw materials per annum

C u :

cost of utilities per annum

d :

thickness of wiper blades in RBE cell

D S :

total product cost per annum when plant is constructed with standard materials

D t :

total product cost per annum

G :

dimension of gap between inner (RBE) and outer electrode

g :

acceleration due to gravity

I :

electric current flow

IC :

indirect costs

L i :

ratio of installed capital cost to major equipment cost (Lang factor)

L :

length of the working electrode

L o :

ratio of cost of system material to cost of standard material (Lang factor)

n :

number of electrolytic cells per reactor

P mc :

power dissipated due to electrode rotation

P mw :

power required to overcome fluid frictional forces at the wiper blades

P pr :

energy imparted to electrolyte by each pump

P rr :

total d.c. power requirement

(Re)R :

radial Reynolds number (RBE radius as characteristic length)=2ΩR 21

(Re) z :

axial Reynolds number (gap between RBE and outer electrode as characteristic length)=2Gv z/v

R 1 :

radius of the RBE

(TGE) :

total general expenses

(TMC):

total manufacturing cost

V T :

compartment terminal voltage in RBE

v Z :

axial flow velocity

w :

number of wiper blades (2 in RBE cell); and cell compartments

x c :

actual cost of cell constructed from special alloy per base cost of cell

x p :

actual cost of pumps constructed from special alloy per base cost of pumps

ν :

kinematic viscosity of electrolyte

ϱv :

density of electrolyte

Ω :

angular velocity of ratating electrode

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Author notes

  1. P. R. Nadebaum

    Present address: Davy Pacific Pty Ltd, 480 St Kilda Road, 3004, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

    P. R. Nadebaum & T. Z. Fahidy

Authors
  1. P. R. Nadebaum
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  2. T. Z. Fahidy
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Nadebaum, P.R., Fahidy, T.Z. Design of electrochemical reactors via a sequential factorial costing technique. J Appl Electrochem 10, 13–24 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00937332

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