Serrated Mesh Cathode for Low-Energy-Consumption Electrochemical Descaling: Mechanism and Process Optimization

The electrochemical descaling method has attracted a lot of attention because it can remove scaling ions in circulating water, which is known as an environmentally friendly technology. However, its application is limited by a low descaling rate, high energy consumption, and difficulty in cathodic regeneration. In this paper, a high-efficiency and low-energy electrochemical descaling system based on a novel serrated mesh cathode is proposed. Experimental and numerical simulation results show that the reaction at the tip region of the serrated mesh cathode is stronger than that at the flat region, resulting in a very weak adhesion between the scale layer and the cathode, which can be removed by simple mechanical cleaning. In addition, scale deposition reactions first occur in the tip region of the serrated mesh cathode, and then the reactions gradually shift to the flat region, greatly prolonging the cathode failure time. By designing a serrated mesh cathode in an electrochemical descaling system, we can effectively solve the problem of high energy consumption caused by cathode failure and scale deposition can be effectively solved. This work provides a simple and feasible solution for the industrialization of the electrochemical descaling technology.