Numerical modeling of multiphase fluid flow through the electrolytic cell

Electrolytic cells are used to obtain sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), an important industrial product, from seawater. The chemical reaction of the process (NaCl + H2O → NaOCl + H2) produces hydrogen gas bubbles near the cathode\u27s surface inside a continuous liquid phase. In time, solid particles of calcium carbonate appear on the cell\u27s anode due to the cell operation. Thus, the fluid flow process in the cell, in general, is a three-phase process that includes turbulence. Although hydrogen bubbles and calcium carbonate particles are usually small in size, they aggregate in the system over time and lead to the blockage of the active area of the electrodes, which lowers the efficiency of the cell. It is important to understand where the regions with high concentration of hydrogen bubbles and solid particles inside the cell are located, and to design an optimally shaped electrolytic device. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)