Experimental Investigation of Two-Phase Electrolysis and Multiphysics Modelling

During two-phase electrolysis processes, for example for hydrogen production, there are bubbles which are created at electrodes. This implies a great vertical motion source in the normal earth gravity field and then a quite important natural two-phase convection. All other fields are then affected. Heat, mass and electricity transfers are modified due to both bubbles screening (at surface and in volume) and to bubbles transport promotion.

Many numerical modeling for two-phase processes such as kerosene pulverization in engines or coal combustion sciences have shown the difficulties of these multi-physics processes. Both particles and reactor scales must be considered according with a strong coupling modeling. In these processes the particles injection is “in the flow”. In boiling or electrolysis processes, a new difficulty is added: particles birth or injection is strongly coupled to the local flow properties and leads to a complex boundary condition at surfaces. Electrical and electrochemical properties and processes are disturbed. This disturbance can lead to the modification of the local current density and to anode effects for example.

The both experimental and numerical investigation is here presented. Experiments are performed in laboratory and in zero gravity (CNES grant and parabolic flights opportunities).