Electronic edition ISSN 1574-0579

Numerical simulation of mass transfer and convection near a hydrogen bubble during water electrolysis in a magnetic field

G. Mutschke^{1, 2} , D. Baczyzmalski³ , C. Cierpka⁴ , F. Karnbach^{2, 5} , M. Uhlemann⁵ , X. Yang^{1, 2} , K. Eckert^{1, 2} , J. Fröhlich²

¹ Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden--Rossendorf, PO Box 510119, D-01314 Dresden, Germany
² Technische Universität Dresden, D-01062 Dresden, Germany
³ Universität der Bundeswehr München, D-85577 Neubiberg, Germany
⁴ Technische Universität Ilmenau, D-99693 Ilmenau, Germany
⁵ IFW Dresden, D-01069 Dresden, Germany

Abstract
Numerical simulations are presented resolving in detail local phenomena near a single hydrogen bubble at the cathode during the electrolysis of water. The modelling is based on recent experiments on hydrogen evolution at a platinum micro-electrode. The simulation results provide local insight into electrolyte convection, species concentration and mass transfer during electrolysis, and the influence of the Lorentz force caused by a vertical magnetic field on the bubble departure is discussed. Figs 5, Refs 15.