Exergy-Based Investigation of Hydrogen Production via Aluminum Chloride (AlCl₃)-Based Chlor-Alkali Electrolysis

Serdal Damarseçkin

Makale detayları

Exergy-Based Investigation of Hydrogen Production via Aluminum Chloride (AlCl₃)-Based Chlor-Alkali Electrolysis

Yazarlar:

Serdal Damarseçkin

Yayıncı:

Karyay Karadeniz Yayımcılık

Ana Başlıklar:

Yenilenebilir Enerji Sistemleri

Dergi:

Black Sea Journal of Engineering and Science Vol.8 Issue 5, pp.1628-1633

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354572

pISSN:

2619-8991

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 In this study, an electrolysis system based on aluminum chloride AlCl₃ was designed as a potential alternative to the conventionally used sodium chloride solutions in chlor-alkali processes. The exergy performance of the system was experimentally investigated under varying temperature and cell voltage conditions. The experimental setup was tested at a constant electrolyte flow rate of 0.3 gs, with temperature levels of 20 C and 45 C, and cell voltages of 5.0 V, 7.5 V, and 10.0 V. In the laboratory-scale cell used in the study, the anode and cathode compartments were separated by a Nafion 212 membrane, which allows the selective passage of Al³ ions. Five graphite electrodes were employed in each compartment. Since the effect of electrolyte flow rate on hydrogen and chlorine gas production was found to be negligible, it was kept constant throughout the experiments. During operation, the generation of reactive chlorine at the anode side led to chemical degradation of the electrode surfaces, resulting in lower chlorine output compared to hydrogen production. According to the experimental findings, the lowest hydrogen generation rate was measured as 0,94 mLmin under 20 C and 5.0 V conditions, while the highest rate reached 3,577 mLmin at 45 C and 10.0 V. Regarding exergy efficiency, the lowest value was calculated as 1,544  at low temperature and voltage, and the highest efficiency was recorded as 4,98  under the highest tested conditions. This study highlights that the AlCl₃-based system was experimentally evaluated for the first time in terms of thermodynamic exergy efficiency, offering a novel and alternative approach within chlor-alkali technologies. Moreover, in addition to hydrogen gas, the system facilitates the formation of aluminum hydroxide AlOH₃, a value-added by-product, thereby enhancing both the environmental sustainability and economic feasibility of the process.

 In this study, an electrolysis system based on aluminum chloride AlCl₃ was designed as a potential alternative to the conventionally used sodium chloride solutions in chlor-alkali processes. The exergy performance of the system was experimentally investigated under varying temperature and cell voltage conditions. The experimental setup was tested at a constant electrolyte flow rate of 0.3 gs, with temperature levels of 20 C and 45 C, and cell voltages of 5.0 V, 7.5 V, and 10.0 V. In the laboratory-scale cell used in the study, the anode and cathode compartments were separated by a Nafion 212 membrane, which allows the selective passage of Al³ ions. Five graphite electrodes were employed in each compartment. Since the effect of electrolyte flow rate on hydrogen and chlorine gas production was found to be negligible, it was kept constant throughout the experiments. During operation, the generation of reactive chlorine at the anode side led to chemical degradation of the electrode surfaces, resulting in lower chlorine output compared to hydrogen production. According to the experimental findings, the lowest hydrogen generation rate was measured as 0,94 mLmin under 20 C and 5.0 V conditions, while the highest rate reached 3,577 mLmin at 45 C and 10.0 V. Regarding exergy efficiency, the lowest value was calculated as 1,544  at low temperature and voltage, and the highest efficiency was recorded as 4,98  under the highest tested conditions. This study highlights that the AlCl₃-based system was experimentally evaluated for the first time in terms of thermodynamic exergy efficiency, offering a novel and alternative approach within chlor-alkali technologies. Moreover, in addition to hydrogen gas, the system facilitates the formation of aluminum hydroxide AlOH₃, a value-added by-product, thereby enhancing both the environmental sustainability and economic feasibility of the process.

 In this study, an electrolysis system based on aluminum chloride AlCl₃ was designed as a potential alternative to the conventionally used sodium chloride solutions in chlor-alkali processes. The exergy performance of the system was experimentally investigated under varying temperature and cell voltage conditions. The experimental setup was tested at a constant electrolyte flow rate of 0.3 gs, with temperature levels of 20 C and 45 C, and cell voltages of 5.0 V, 7.5 V, and 10.0 V. In the laboratory-scale cell used in the study, the anode and cathode compartments were separated by a Nafion 212 membrane, which allows the selective passage of Al³ ions. Five graphite electrodes were employed in each compartment. Since the effect of electrolyte flow rate on hydrogen and chlorine gas production was found to be negligible, it was kept constant throughout the experiments. During operation, the generation of reactive chlorine at the anode side led to chemical degradation of the electrode surfaces, resulting in lower chlorine output compared to hydrogen production. According to the experimental findings, the lowest hydrogen generation rate was measured as 0,94 mLmin under 20 C and 5.0 V conditions, while the highest rate reached 3,577 mLmin at 45 C and 10.0 V. Regarding exergy efficiency, the lowest value was calculated as 1,544  at low temperature and voltage, and the highest efficiency was recorded as 4,98  under the highest tested conditions. This study highlights that the AlCl₃-based system was experimentally evaluated for the first time in terms of thermodynamic exergy efficiency, offering a novel and alternative approach within chlor-alkali technologies. Moreover, in addition to hydrogen gas, the system facilitates the formation of aluminum hydroxide AlOH₃, a value-added by-product, thereby enhancing both the environmental sustainability and economic feasibility of the process.

 Bu çalışmada, klor-alkali proseslerinde geleneksel olarak tercih edilen sodyum klorür çözeltilerine alternatif oluşturabilecek nitelikte, alüminyum klorür AlCl₃ esaslı bir elektroliz sistemi tasarlanmış ve sistemin farklı sıcaklık ve voltaj düzeylerinde sergilediği ekserji performansı deneysel olarak değerlendirilmiştir. Deneysel düzenek, sabit elektrolit debisi 0,3 gs koşulunda, 20 C ve 45 C sıcaklıklar ile 5,0 V, 7,5 V ve 10,0 V hücre gerilimleri altında test edilmiştir. Çalışmada kullanılan laboratuvar tipi hücrede anot ve katot bölmeleri, Al³ iyonlarının seçici geçişine imkân tanıyan Nafion 212 membranıyla birbirinden ayrılmıştır. Her iki bölmede beşer adet grafit elektrot kullanılmıştır. Elektrolit akış hızının hidrojen ve klor üretimi üzerindeki etkisi deneysel olarak önemsiz bulunmuş ve bu nedenle sabit tutulmuştur. Deney süresince anot bölgesinde meydana gelen klor gazı üretimi, elektrot yüzeylerinde kimyasal aşınmaya neden olmuş; bu durum, klor gazı veriminin hidrojen gazına kıyasla daha düşük olmasına neden olmuştur. Elde edilen deneysel bulgulara göre, hidrojen üretim hızı 20 C sıcaklık ve 5,0 V gerilim altında en düşük seviyede olup 0,94 mLdk olarak kaydedilmiş, buna karşılık 45 C ve 10,0 V koşullarında 3,577 mLdk ile en yüksek üretim hızına ulaşılmıştır. Ekserji verimliliği, düşük sıcaklık ve gerilim koşullarında  1,544 seviyesinde kalırken, en yüksek verim  4,98 ile yüksek sıcaklık ve voltaj kombinasyonunda gözlemlenmiştir. Bu kapsamda, AlCl₃ çözeltisiyle çalışan elektroliz sisteminin literatürde ilk kez termodinamik verimlilik ekserji açısından deneysel olarak incelendiği vurgulanmakta olup, bu tür sistemlerin klor-alkali teknolojileri içerisinde alternatif ve yenilikçi bir yaklaşım sunduğu değerlendirilmiştir. Ayrıca, reaksiyon sonucunda hidrojenin yanı sıra, ekonomik değeri yüksek olan AlOH₃ bileşiğinin oluşması, sürecin çevresel sürdürülebilirliğini ve ekonomik cazibesini artıran önemli bir unsur olarak öne çıkmaktadır.

Makale detayları

Exergy-Based Investigation of Hydrogen Production via Aluminum Chloride (AlCl₃)-Based Chlor-Alkali Electrolysis

Yazarlar:

Serdal Damarseçkin

Yayıncı:

Karyay Karadeniz Yayımcılık

Ana Başlıklar:

Yenilenebilir Enerji Sistemleri

Dergi:

Black Sea Journal of Engineering and Science Vol.8 Issue 5, pp.1628-1633

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354572

pISSN:

2619-8991

Hydrogen production

Chlor-alkali reactor

Energy

ExergyHidrojen üretimi

Klor-alkali reaktör

Enerji

Ekserji

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Serdal Damarseçkin

Yayıncı: Karyay Karadeniz Yayımcılık

Ana Başlıklar: Yenilenebilir Enerji Sistemleri

Dergi: Black Sea Journal of Engineering and Science Vol.8 Issue 5, pp.1628-1633

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 9/2025

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001354572

pISSN: 2619-8991

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Serdal Damarseçkin

Yayıncı:

Karyay Karadeniz Yayımcılık

Ana Başlıklar:

Yenilenebilir Enerji Sistemleri

Dergi:

Black Sea Journal of Engineering and Science Vol.8 Issue 5, pp.1628-1633

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354572

pISSN:

2619-8991