Fluid Dynamics\nof an Electrochemical Flow Reactor\nwith Different Gas Diffusion Electrodes for In Situ Hydrogen Peroxide\nProduction

This study integrates macromixing and micromixing methodologies\nto characterize an electrochemical reactor with a gas diffusion electrode\n(GDE) based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations validated\nby residence time distribution (RTD) data. It experimentally evaluates\ntwo types of GDEs for H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> accumulation and\nuses the validated CFD model to evaluate the distribution of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> in the reactor. The tanks-in-series (T-I-S)\nmodel provides a qualitative understanding of the fluid’s macroscopic\nbehavior, while the transition SST model analyzes the fluid’s\nmicroscopic dynamics and turbulence zones. The study reveals a significant\nconvergence of current density, volumetric flow rate, and GDE type\nfor H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> production. The optimal experimental\nconfiguration (carbon/PTFE/fabric with <i>Q</i> = 50 L h<sup>–1</sup>) was evaluated through CFD simulations in the distribution\nof H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> at different flow rates. These results\nimprove our understanding of the hydrodynamics of the electrochemical\nreactor and offer prospects for optimizing the H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> generation and accumulation processes.