Space charge evolution in dilute binary electrolytes exposed to HV transients

Dilute solutions of KCl were investigated with HV transients to determine the effects of electrode reactions on the voltage-current relationship. The resistance seen by the external circuit under transient conditions was a function of bulk conduction processes and space charge near the electrodes. The bulk conductivity of KCl, described by a set of coupled first order differential equations, was reduced to a thermally varying conductivity model. The variation of conductivity with temperature was small enough that space charge effects could be measured. A forced diffusion model was developed to describe the electrode processes with an applied transient voltage and constant temperature.