Abstract
Novel electrochemical cell designs are emerging as alternative process units for various applications in industry. Most of the advances in electrochemical cell design are in the field of improving mass transfer which permits increased specific production capacity, reduced footprint, increased selectivity, and plating from lower metal ion concentrations. One of the designs gaining acceptance in industry is the annular electrochemical cell. This paper discusses the effect of flow rates and inlet geometry on mass transfer in an annular electrochemical cell, using silver as a tracer element while plating from a copper electrolyte. It is concluded that swirl flow significantly improves mass transfer compared to axial flow in annular electrochemical cells due to the slower formation of the diffusion layer. The noble element tracer method proves to be a valuable tool in cell design and understanding mass transfer in annular electrochemical cells.