Asymmetric bipolar switch device for electrochemical processes

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Access rights

openAccess

URL

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä

Date

2019-08-01

Major/Subject

Mcode

Degree programme

Language

en

Pages

Series

AIP ADVANCES, Volume 9, issue 8

Abstract

New strategies for the intensification of industrial electromembrane processes are needed, especially to reduce equipment size and operational costs. To intensify those processes and to decrease fouling and scale occurrence in such systems, we propose operation with very short asymmetric pulses (order of microseconds) of alternating polarity. Hence, a custom made Asymmetric Bipolar Switch was designed and built, operating with pulse widths in the 10-5-10-2 s range. Compared to traditional systems, we demonstrate the possibility of applying pulses with high intensities, up to three times higher than normal operation, using a frequency range between 0 (continuous operation) and 102 Hz. The proposed device was coupled to an electrodialysis cell for desalting a brine solution. When switching in desalination, a Back Electrochemical Force was identified, which could affect the integrity of the electronic systems due to spikes of reverse voltage. Hence, mitigation strategies were applied by changing the switching logic and incorporating new elements in the circuitry, similar to those in breaking methods in electrical motors. While desalting in electrodialysis, the experiments showed a limited power loss, up to 0.6% of the total power applied, attributed mainly to electrical disturbance (conduction and switching losses in the electronic components were minor at this scale). No significant variation in the desalination performance was observed at low current densities. The designed Asymmetric Bipolar Switch opens new possibilities for the operation with electromembranes and other electrochemical processes.

Description

Keywords

Other note

Citation

Gonzalez-Vogel , A & Rojas , O J 2019 , ' Asymmetric bipolar switch device for electrochemical processes ' , AIP Advances , vol. 9 , no. 8 , 085011 . https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5115412