• Login
    View Item 
    •   NWU-IR Home
    • Research Output
    • Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
    • View Item
    •   NWU-IR Home
    • Research Output
    • Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Performance evaluation of a membraneless divergent electrode-flow-through (DEFT) alkaline electrolyser based on optimisation of electrolytic flow and electrode gap

    Thumbnail
    Date
    2015
    Author
    Gillespie, M.I.
    Van der Merwe, F.
    Kriek, R.J.
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    A membraneless divergent electrode-flow-through (DEFT) alkaline electrolysis design and operating principle is investigated, which allows for the ohmic drop contribution and performance threshold limitations of a conventional membrane barrier to be overcome. Employing mesh electrodes of 30 mm diameter, operation of the electrolyser at an electrolytic flow velocity of 0.075–0.1 m s−1, resulted in an optimal electrode gap of ∼2.5 mm, while operating at greater velocities (>0.1–0.2 m s−1) allows for the employment of a smaller optimal gap of ∼0.8 mm. At an electrode gap of 2.5 mm and current densities of 3500 mA cm−2, hydrogen purity of 99.83% has been recorded. With pure nickel electrodes current densities of 101.19 mA cm−2 (at 1.80 VDC) and 326.33 mA cm−2 (at 2 VDC) have been achieved, while the use of superior catalysts, namely, RuO2/IrO2/TiO2 and Pt for the anode and cathode respectively, resulted in the current densities to increase to 219.99 mA cm−2 (at 1.8 VDC) and 474.40 mA cm−2 (at 2 VDC) at an electrode gap of 2.5 mm and a minimum flow velocity of 0.075 m s−1. The test rig is capable of generating hydrogen at a rate of 63.6 L/hr at normal temperature and pressure (NTP). The production rate follows current density linearly at high overpotentials
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10394/18513
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2015.05.077
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304386X16308593
    Collections
    • Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences [4855]

    Copyright © North-West University
    Contact Us | Send Feedback
    Theme by 
    Atmire NV
     

     

    Browse

    All of NWU-IR Communities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsAdvisor/SupervisorThesis TypeThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsAdvisor/SupervisorThesis Type

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Copyright © North-West University
    Contact Us | Send Feedback
    Theme by 
    Atmire NV