F. H. Bark, Yu. I. Kharkats*, and R. Wedin
Faculty of Mechanics, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
* Frumkin Institute of Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskii pr. 31, Moscow, 117071 Russia
Received June 5, 1997
Abstract—The Joule heating is studied theoretically in a simple electrochemical cell formed by two vertical
metallic electrodes and two electrochemically inert horizontal boundaries. The cell contains an aqueous solu-
tion of a metal salt as the electrolyte. The voltage across the cell is assumed to be specified. A convective elec-
trolyte flow emerges in the cell in the course of electrolysis. A steady-state mode of the cell operation, which is
characterized by large values of the Rayleigh number and the applied voltage, is considered. The heat contri-
bution in the natural convection is shown to be negligible, compared with the convection that is due to changes
in the solution density caused by variations of its composition. In the steady-state mode, the solution becomes
stratified, which affects significantly the electrolyte flow. The electric current distribution in the vertical direc-
tion is shown to be nonuniform, which results in a nonuniform heat generation and a nonuniform temperature
distribution. The procedure developed can be useful (after slight modifications) for studying heat effects in
lead–acid batteries intended for electric engines.
Pleiades Publishing home page | journal home page | top
If you have any problems with this server, contact webmaster.