Simulation

With numerical flow simulation, the flow field and the depletion of hydrogen can be displayed over the electrolyte, thus optimizing the flow channels and the materials used. On the one hand the numerical flow simulation allows a reduction of costly experimental analyses, on the other hand flow phenomena coupled with electrochemical processes can be better understood than was previously possible on the basis of measurements.

The electrochemical flow simulations deal with questions of fluid dynamic representation as well as the simultaneous electrochemical conversion of the educts and the resulting current distribution over the membrane surface. Particular attention is paid to the investigation of highly unevenly flowed-on and loaded components and their influence on the electrochemical conversion.

The resulting thermally and fluidically induced current and voltage distribution is a frequent cause of failure of individual membranes during operation (e.g. hotspot). With the CFD methods it is possible to draw conclusions about the service life of a fuel cell stack from the loads determined by a fluid-electrochemical interaction.