Abstract
A phenomenological model for the creation and transport
of anodic gas bubbles in Hall-H´roult cells is presented.
e
Due to the large variation in length scales and bubble
topology, a multiscale approach is introduced in which
molecular gas is assumed to be formed as supersaturated
CO2 in the electrolyte. This paper describes models and
constitutive relations that are intended for the simulation
of anodic bubbles, ranging from the generation of molec-
ular gas species through Faraday’s law and subsequent
bubble nucleation, to the evolution of macroscopic bub-
bles by means of a Volume of Fluid (VOF) model. The
coupling between macro- and micro scales is performed
by means of a population balance. The complete model
is implemented in ANSYS FLUENT.
The model is applied to a 2D-cross section of a lab
scale electrolysis cell, showing that essential properties are
well represented by the proposed approach. Finally, the
influence of Lorentz forces on the global bubble behaviour
is investigated.
of anodic gas bubbles in Hall-H´roult cells is presented.
e
Due to the large variation in length scales and bubble
topology, a multiscale approach is introduced in which
molecular gas is assumed to be formed as supersaturated
CO2 in the electrolyte. This paper describes models and
constitutive relations that are intended for the simulation
of anodic bubbles, ranging from the generation of molec-
ular gas species through Faraday’s law and subsequent
bubble nucleation, to the evolution of macroscopic bub-
bles by means of a Volume of Fluid (VOF) model. The
coupling between macro- and micro scales is performed
by means of a population balance. The complete model
is implemented in ANSYS FLUENT.
The model is applied to a 2D-cross section of a lab
scale electrolysis cell, showing that essential properties are
well represented by the proposed approach. Finally, the
influence of Lorentz forces on the global bubble behaviour
is investigated.
