Measurement of instantaneous rates of mass transfer to a small sink on a wall

Abstract

Abstract A technique has been developed for measuring the average rate of transfer and the fluctuations in the rate of transfer at a small source or sink on a wall. The transfer area consists of a small polarized electrode mounted flush with the wall. An electrochemical redox reaction whose rate is limited by mass transfer is employed. The technique can be used to study the flow pattern in the vicinity of the wall. By measuring the mass transfer simultaneously to two wall electrodes at varying distances apart the extent of unsteady flows in the vicinity of the wall can be measured.