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HBr electrolysis in the Ispara Mark 13A flue gas desulphurization process: electrolysis in a DEM cell

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Abstract

The potential application of a DEM cell for the electrolysis of hydrogen bromide in the Ispra Mark 13A process for flue gas desulphurization has been tested in a number of laboratory experiments and in long-duration tests in a bench-scale plant of the process. Satisfactory electrode materials have been found, i.e. Hastelloy C 276 for the cathode and a RuO2 coating on titanium for the anode. Both electrode materials showed a good stability during a 1500 hours experiment. Cell voltage/current density relationships have been determined during bench-scale plant operation. A typical value is 1.5V at a current density of 2.5 kA m−2. It has been shown that in an undivided cell a cathodic back reaction occurs which causes a decrease of the current efficiency. Under normal operation conditions current efficiencies of about 90% are obtained.

A simplified flow model for the DEM cell was developed which is useful in understanding the phenomena which occur during scale-up of the cell. An industrial size installation for the production of 170 kg h−1 of bromine at a current density of 2 kA m−2 was constructed and has been in operation since August 1989.

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Abbreviations

a x :

thermodynamic activity of the constituentx (mol cm−3)

C :

bromine concentration (mol l−1)

e z :

local current efficiency

e ov :

overall cell efficiency

E 0a :

anodic standard potential (V)

E 0c :

cathodic standard potential (V)

E ca :

equilibrium anode potential (V)

E ce :

equilibrium cathode potential (V)

F :

Faraday number (C mol−1)

g a :

anodic overpotential (V)

g c :

cathodic overpotential (V)

G :

electrolyte flow rate (l h−1)

i :

current density (A m−2)

K c :

cathodic back reaction rate factor (l mol−1)

L :

cell width (m)

n :

number of electrons involved (n=2)

R :

gas constant (J K−1 mol−1)

R cell :

cell resistance (ohm m2)

R c :

circuit resistance (ohm m2)

w b :

local cathodic back reaction rate (mol m−2 h−1)

w th :

local theoretical reaction rate (mol m−2 h−1)

W th :

overall theoretical reaction rate (mol h−1)

T :

temperature (K)

Z :

cell length (m)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Commission of the European Communities, Joint Research Centre-Ispra Establishment, 21020, Ispra, (Va), Italy

    D. van Velzen, H. Langenkamp & A. Moryoussef

  2. The Electricity Council Research Centre, Capenhurst, CH1 6ES, Chester, UK

    P. Millington

Authors
  1. D. van Velzen
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  2. H. Langenkamp
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  3. A. Moryoussef
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  4. P. Millington
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van Velzen, D., Langenkamp, H., Moryoussef, A. et al. HBr electrolysis in the Ispara Mark 13A flue gas desulphurization process: electrolysis in a DEM cell. J Appl Electrochem 20, 60–68 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012472

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012472

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