Three-dimensional electrochemical Bunsen reaction characteristics in the sulfur–iodine water splitting cycle for hydrogen production

Hydrogen production from the sulfur–iodine water splitting cycle integrated with solar or nuclear energy has been proposed as a promising technique. Bunsen reaction is one of the three main steps in the cycle and electrochemical method has been applied to this reaction. In present work, a three-dimensional numerical study of the electrochemical Bunsen reaction was conducted. A three-dimensional, steady state, laminar and isothermal mathematical model of electrolytic cell was developed and verified by experiments. The spatial maldistribution of species concentration was found between electrodes and proton exchange membrane (PEM). The electric power drives most H2SO4 and I2 to the anode and cathode surface, respectively, while the proton attraction contributes to HI enrichment on the surface of PEM. At the high inlet H2SO4 concentration of 50 wt%, the transformation of flow channel from single serpentine to single entry & double serpentine with the same inlet flow rate cannot solve the insufficient problem of SO2. But the increase of the overall inlet flow rate in the double entry & double serpentine flow channel make SO2 sufficient for anode reaction. Further decreasing the inlet H2SO4 concentration to 40 wt% and 30 wt% make the initial SO2 sufficient for overall reactions. The single serpentine channel gives the highest SO2 conversion rate, followed by the single entry & double serpentine and double entry & double serpentine flow channels. The single serpentine flow channel at the H2SO4 inlet concentration of 40 wt% is found optimal for achieving a high electrochemical Bunsen reaction performance.