Redox cell hydrodynamics modelling – simulation and experimental validation

Abstract

An electrochemical reactor is an assembly capable of withstanding an electrochemical reaction of practical application. It consists of electrodes surrounded by a volume of liquid electrolyte. Major difficulty and challenge involved in this modeling is the fact that real experimentation with high acid flows is extremely difficult to perform. To overcome them, some assumptions are proposed in order to achieve a computational model suitable to be used as virtual laboratory for redox batteries designers. A model is proposed to analyze the flow of the liquid electrolyte in an electrochemical reactor. Numerical and experimental analyses of such flow in a prototype of a real reactor are proposed. Good hydraulic behaviors will be shown in the majority of the volume, even if there are zones with practically no velocities or with recirculations. These volumes are used to define the parameters that indicate the hydraulic operation. This article describes the experimental and numerical modeling applied to a particular Iron Flow Cell prototype. The experimental validation has shown little numerical errors, smaller than 2.25%. This methodological research provides a very powerful calibrated tool which will help engineers in the future in decision-making in order to optimize real designs. © 2013 Taylor and Francis Group LLC.