Electrochemical Engineering and Cell Design

Along with the availability of new materials, the concepts of electrochemical engineering have led to major enhancements in cell performance for both academic and industrial 

Developments in Electrochemistry Science Inspired by Martin Fleischmann, First Edition. Edited by Derek Fletcher, Zhong-Qun Tian and David E. Williams. 

While a specific cell design usually reflects a particular application, some generalizations and their implications can be helpful. The cell should offer  

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Electrochemical Engineering and Cell Design 99 Which Type of Cell and Stack... 

Principles of electrochemical engineering, fuel cell reactors, and electrocatalytic reactor design... 

Batteries must have sufficient safety for any given application. Improved abuse tolerance and engineering for graceful failure is a challenge that encompasses many areas of study and specialization. The safety and abuse tolerance of electrochemical cells depends on materials, engineering, and chemical interactions. Standardized tests are available that allow developers and users to compare the abuse tolerance of materials and cell design modifications. 

Reaction Engineering. Electrochemical reaction engineering considers the performance of the overall cell design ia carrying out a reaction. The joining of electrode kinetics with the physical environment of the reaction provides a description of the reaction system. Both the electrode configuration and the reactant flow patterns are taken iato account. More ia-depth treatments of this topic are available (8,9,10,12). 

A more recent review by Fahidy (FI) concerns the chemical engineering approach to electrochemical processes, such as fluidized-bed reactors, bipolar particulate reactors, pulsed electrochemical reactors, gas-phase electrochemical reactors, electrocrystallization and electrodissolution, and the enhancement of heat and mass transfer in electric fields. In this review, the author also discusses dimensionless mass-transfer equations applied in cell design. Such equations are reviewed in greater detail in Section VI. 

On the other hand, ion conductivity is not the only obstacle that prevents the application of SPEs. In 1994, Anderman published a review highly critical of the prospects for the application of SPEs in electrochemical devices, in which he questioned almost all of the previously projected advantages from the viewpoint of cell design and engineering. "... 

The engineering of the electrochemical cell is a key step for the successful implementation of the target process. While this is true for any electrochemical process, and extended treatment of cell design and operations and of the relevant... 

The successful development of electrochemical processes for some of the cited reactions requires an understanding not only of surface interactions but also of the changes in activity and selectivity that may incur from cell design, mixing, potential or current distribution, and transport processes. Here, we shall examine some simple reaction engineering principles that would be helpful for elucidating these effects. 

Process or device development is intimately linked to the availability of materials suitable as active or passive cell components. Design, even in its conceptual stage, is inseparable from what materials are available for electrodes or for containment, what electrolyte compositions may come into consideration, and what separators (if any) are needed. Electrochemical engineering involves not only the cell or cell process but also the often considerable chemical and physical operations (separations, chemical reactors, heat exchangers, control, etc.) that precede and follow the electrochemical step. 

From the electrochemical engineering point of view, the electrocatalyst design depends on the purpose of the electrochemical reactor, gas electrosynthesis, organic synthesis, batteries or supercapacitors, metal electrodeposition, and the fuel cells. 

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