Use of Electrochemical Methods for the Study of Mass Transfer and Drag Reduction in Polymer Solutions Close to a Wall

Abstract

Mass transfer to the surface of a rotating disk in the presence of a drag reducing polymer (PEO) has been studied by an electrochemical method. Mass transfer rates were predicted and measured for different electrode geometries: (i) thin ring, (ii) circular microelectrode, and (iii) the disk. A relation for friction velocity available up to maximum drag reduction conditions where the average flow is laminarized at the scale of the diffusion layer, has been proposed from the analysis of the experimental data on circular microelectrode and ring electrode. The comparison of these data with disk electrode measurements substantiated a sharp thickening of the diffusion sublayer at the lowest polymer concentrations.