拉伸网流道结构对碱性电解槽流动与电化学特性影响模拟研究

Simulation Study on the Influence of Expanded Mesh Flow Channel Structure on the Flow and Electrochemical Characteristics of Alkaline Water Electrolyzers

  • 摘要: 碱性水电解作为当前绿色氢能制备的关键技术之一,因其设备成本低、技术相对成熟等优势而被广泛应用。然而,受限于传统电解槽结构中气液分离效率低、极化损失大以及流动不均等问题,其整体能效与稳定性仍有较大提升空间。为了深入揭示碱性电解槽内部的传质传热与电化学耦合机制,提升系统性能与结构设计水平,本文以拉伸网结构电解槽为对象,围绕几何结构(网孔坡长、短轴长度、高度)与流动配置(流动方向)等关键参数,开展了基于多物理场耦合建模与优化分析的系统研究。研究通过构建涵盖气液两相流、传热与电化学反应过程的三维多物理场耦合模型,分析电解槽内部复杂物理过程的相互作用机制。模拟结果揭示了各设计变量对气泡脱除效率、局部电流密度分布及系统压降的影响规律,为拉伸网流道碱性电解槽流动与电化学性能优化提供指导方向。

     

    Abstract: As one of the key technologies for green hydrogen production, alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) has been widely adopted due to its low equipment cost and relatively mature technology. However, conventional electrolyzer designs still face significant challenges, such as low gas–liquid separation efficiency, high polarization losses, and uneven flow distribution, which limit the overall energy efficiency and operational stability of the system. To gain deeper insights into the coupled mechanisms of mass transfer, heat transfer, and electrochemical reactions within alkaline electrolyzers, and to enhance both system performance and structural design, this study focuses on electrolyzers with expanded mesh structures. A systematic investigation is conducted on key design parameters, including geometric factors (mesh opening slope length, minor axis length, and mesh height) and flow configurations (flow direction), using a multiphysics coupling approach. A three-dimensional multiphysics model is developed, incorporating two-phase gas–liquid flow, heat transfer, and electrochemical reaction processes, to elucidate the interactions among the complex physical phenomena occurring inside the cell. The numerical study consists of three main steps: electrochemical initialization, coupled simulation of the flow and thermal fields, and post-processing analysis. The simulation results reveal the influence of structural variables on bubble removal efficiency, local current density distribution, and system pressure drop. Specifically, counter-flow configurations enhance bubble detachment and promote disturbance in the reaction zone, thereby improving mass transfer efficiency and current uniformity. Optimizing the major axis length offers a favorable trade-off between pressure drop and performance improvement, making it a key factor in structural optimization. Additionally, tuning the mesh height requires a careful balance between inducing flow disturbance and maintaining smooth electrolyte transport. This work provides valuable insights and design guidelines for optimizing the flow and electrochemical performance of alkaline electrolyzers equipped with expanded mesh flow channels.

     

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