Natural convection mass transfer behavior of serially connected cylindrical electrodes

Natural convection mass transfer rates at both vertical and horizontal serially connected tubes were reported using the electrochemical technique involving the measurement of limiting currents for the deposition of copper on copper cylinders from acidified cupric sulphate solutions. Measurements were carried out with: (a) one tube active; (b) two tube surfaces active; (c) three tube surfaces active.

The electrolyte concentration and a number of serial connections of tubes were varied to provide a range of GrSc extending from 5.3×10⁸ to 9.5×10¹¹. The mass transfer rates at serially connected horizontal cylinders were in good agreement with mass transfer data in the literature. Correlation of results covered both laminar and turbulent conditions separately. The mass transfer rates at serially connected vertical cylinders were controlled by the boundary layer development at the multi-electrodes. The results for vertical electrodes, which are single, serially connected two and three electrodes, were separately correlated in the turbulent region.

The results illustrate the important effect of boundary layer development in determining current distribution in multi-electrode electrochemical cells.