Electrochemical Reactor Design and Configurations

Introduction

Electrochemical processes combine chemistry and electricity to meet the needs of today’s society. Chlorine [303748, 303736, 303737], lye [304624], aluminum [304624], hydrogen [303854, 303855], oxygen [303858, 305263, 303855], copper, and other chemicals are vital for consumers and industry. Batteries and fuel cells supply demands for efficient and portable power. At the heart of all electrochemical processes is the electrochemical reactor.

Table 1 lists several electrochemical processes and their reactions, feeds, and products. The chlor-alkali process consumes approximately 2 % of the electricity generated in the USA. The process involves electrolysis of a brine solution to produce Cl₂ at the anode and NaOH at the cathode. In the Hall process for aluminum refining, Al₂O₂ reacts with a carbon electrode to form Al and CO₂. Water electrolysis is a widespread technology for generating pure H₂ and O₂. While reforming of methane or other hydrocarbon gas is a cheaper...