Numerical Simulation of the saline water electrolysis process using electromagnetic waves

Microwave irradiation has been used to speed up chemical reactions in comparison to conventional reactions. Because the electromagnetic waves cause increasing molecular vibrations. Energy consumption is reduced by using electromagnetic waves. As a result, electrode corrosion rate is reduced. In this article, a numerical method has been used to compare saline water electrolysis (EL) and saline water electromagnetic electrolysis reactor (EMER). Axisymmetric geometry is considered in simulations and steady and frequency dependent analysis are conducted. Continuity equations and Navier-Stocks equation for fluid flow, and Nernest-Planck equation for mass transfer flow, and the maxwell equation for electromagnetic wave modeling are taken into account. At the first, the effect of electromagnetic waves on the ion separation has been investigated. Results have shown that an obvious enhancement has occurred in ion separation due to electromagnetic irradiation. The dechlorination in EMER process has been improved more than three times in comparison with EL process. Also, the ion separation has been enhanced linearly by increasing the cell potential and initial salinity. The quantitative results of each parameter are shown in the paper.