An analysis of open-conduit electrolytic cells is presented via open channel theory and the concept of an interaction parameter related to free and forced convection effects. NOMENCLATURE width of the oben channel, m electrolyte coricentration; C,: reacting ionic species; C,: C, at the working electrode; C,: C, in the bulk &l&n-kmole/m3 _ height ofthe electrolyte in the open channel conduit, m equivalent channel diameter, m diffusivity of the reacting species, m2/s dimensionless velocity gradient Grashof number, Gr = gcc*(CO -C,)w'/v* acceleration due to gravity, 9-807 m/s' current density; i,: limiting current density, A/m' length of the working electrode, m distance of the electrode mid-point from electrolyte surface, m mass flux of the reacting ionic species, mole/m2. s ' Peclet number, Pe = ie/Sc electrolyte flow rate, m3/s Rayleigh number, Ra = Gr SC Reynolds number, Re = (V_dJv) slope of the open channel, m/m Schmidt number, SC = v/D1 Sherwood number, Sh = &d,/ZFD, cb w-ordinate along channel width. m co-ordinate along channel length, m co-ordinate. along channel height, m electrolyte velocity; VaVC: average velocity; I(,,,: maximum velocity, m/s electrode height, m densification coefficient, m'/kmole electrolyte velocity gradient, s-l geometric aspect ratio, b/d similarity transformation parameter clcctrolyte kinematic viscosity, m'js geometric shape factor in equation (16) geometric shape function in equation (9) * By the Newman-Selman proccdure[12]. t Via equation (7).