Chaos-Enhanced Manganese Electrolysis: Nodule Suppression and Improved Efficiency using Controllable Chaotic Electrical Signals

Abstract

The control and industrial application of chaotic systems is a major obstacle limiting the diffusion of chaos theory. In this study, we proposed a new chaotic system, which possessed the amplitude control, multi-waveform output, and two-dimensional offset boosting functions. In addition, the application of chaotic circuits in manganese metal electrolysis system can replace conventional direct current (DC). It has been shown that the use of time-varying electricity facilitates the suppression of electrochemical oscillations, and inhibits the growth of spherical manganese nodules. An examination of current efficiency for different oscillations (period 1, period 2, chaos-a and chaos-b) and various current amplitudes has established that chaos-a electrical signals are most suitable for inhibiting the growth of manganese nodules. The Mn nodule area ratios can be reduced by 38% with a 5.83% increase in current efficiency, representing an energy consumption saving of 0.58 kWh/kg. This interdisciplinary approach holds promise for advancing the study of nonlinear dynamic behavior in electrochemical reaction processes and addressing critical challenges in various fields, such as energy dissipation, quality improvement of electrodeposited products, and regulation of by-product properties.