Numerical Analysis of the Prediction of Zincate Concentration at a Zinc Electrode with Electrolyte Flow Conditions in a Zinc Air Fuel Cell

Abstract

: In this work, the numerical analysis for the zincate behavior at a zinc electrode with an electrolyte flow was carried out for a ZAFC. The Nernst-Planck equation with a boundary condition of Butler-Volmer type was adopted to describe electrochemical effects of mass transfer, migration, kinetics of electrode. The Navier-Stokes equation, coupling to the Nernst-Planck equation, is also applied to describe the internal electrolyte flow fields. The validity of the numerical model is proved through the comparative analysis between numerical and experimental results. The concentration of zincate and the current density were also investigated at a zinc anode according to various electrolyte velocities. We have found the concentration of zincate decreased and the current density increased with an increase in the electrolyte velocity.