A 3D finite element method for the coupled numerical simulation of electrochemical systems and fluid flow: ion transport in electrodeposition

Multi-ion transport is a fundamental aspect for the modeling of many electrochemical systems. An important electrochemical application is electrodeposition of metals, where electrically conductive objects are coated with layers of metal by using electrical current. In macroscopic models based on the continuum hypothesis, the unknown physical fields to be solved for are the respective ionic species concentrations as well as the electric potential inside the electrolyte solution. Chemical reactions, that is, the deposition process in the present context, are typically limited to the electrode surfaces and modeled by nonlinear boundary conditions depending on the solution variables. The governing equations form a coupled system of nonlinear partial differential equations supplemented with an algebraic constraint. For electrochemical systems where the influence of convection is not negligible, an inherent coupling to fluid flow exists. Several challenges have to be faced when solving the resulting system of coupled equations as described above. Here, we present the development of a stabilized finite element formulation for the coupled nonlinear system of ion transport and incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. After presenting the computational approach, results from various three-dimensional numerical examples will be provided, demonstrating that our numerical method is robust and provides accurate results. Finally, we discuss challenges, advances and future steps of our current work towards the development of a predictive tool for industrial electrodeposition applications.     «

Multi-ion transport is a fundamental aspect for the modeling of many electrochemical systems. An important electrochemical application is electrodeposition of metals, where electrically conductive objects are coated with layers of metal by using electrical current. In macroscopic models based on the continuum hypothesis, the unknown physical fields to be solved for are the respective ionic species concentrations as well as the electric potential inside the electrolyte solution. Chemical reaction...     »