Toward more sustainable photovoltaic solar electrochemical oxidation treatments: Influence of hydraulic and electrical distribution

Powering electrochemical technologies with renewable energies is a promising way to get more sustainable environmental remediation techniques. However, the operational conditions of those processes must be optimized undergo fast and efficient treatments. In this work, influence electrical hydraulic connections in performance set two electrolyzers directly powered by photovoltaic panels was evaluated. Despite both were assembled using same electrode material, they showed different performances. Results indicate that electrolyzer higher ohmic resistance overpotential attained greater production oxidant species, being produced under most strategy around 4.8 15.1 mmol oxidants per Ah 1 2, respectively. Nevertheless, an excess because inefficient energy management, led low removal efficiencies as consequence waste into undesirable reactions. Regarding distribution wastewater between cells, it found on total attained, serial connection 2.5 1.8 than parallel series strategies, maximize use power panels. Furthermore, allows system work lower current densities, reducing mass transfer limitations. Considering advantages, cells reach highest specific pollutant, 2.52 mg clopyralid (Wh)-1. Conversely, opposite (parallel connection-series connection) lowest ratio, 0.48 These results are important considered design electrolytic treatments panels, show optimize stack layout full-scale applications, exhibiting significant impact sustainability application.