Effects of electrolyte flow rate and current density on the output performance of seawater-activated batteries

doi:10.11949/0438-1157.20250426

Abstract

Abstract:

The output performance of seawater-activated batteries serves as a pivotal indicator for assessing their commercial viability, where electrolyte flow rate and current density play dominant roles due to their substantial impact on battery behavior. By developing a multiphysics-coupled model, this study comprehensively analyzes the influence of electrolyte flow rate and current density on the battery's output performance (electrochemical response and mass transport). The results show that appropriately increasing the electro-hydraulic flow rate can effectively reduce concentration polarization and significantly improve the output voltage and discharge energy of the battery. Although elevated current densities enhance power density, they aggravate polarization losses (concentration/ohmic), ultimately compromising energy density. Through entropy weight method evaluation, an optimal parameter set (250 ml/min flow rate, 600 mA/cm² current density) achieves a high composite score of 0.808, confirming that coordinated regulation of flow rate and current density maximizes output performance. This work provides a theoretical foundation for the industrial deployment of seawater-activated batteries.

Key words: seawater-activated battery, numerical simulation, optimization, convection, mass transfer, electrochemistry

摘要：

海水激活电池输出特性是衡量其实用化的关键指标，而电液流量及电流密度作为其运行过程中的重要参数，对电池输出特性的影响尤为显著。通过构建海水激活电池多物理场耦合模型，系统研究了不同电液流量、电流密度对海水激活电池输出特性（电化学特性、传质特性）的影响。结果表明：适当提高电液流量可以有效降低浓差极化，显著提升电池的输出电压和放电能量。电流密度的增加虽能显著提升功率密度，但同时也会加剧浓差极化与欧姆极化效应，降低电池的能量密度。通过熵权法综合评价发现，电液流量250 ml/min与电流密度600 mA/cm²组合下的综合评价值高达0.808，表明电液流量与电流密度的协同优化可有效提高电池的输出特性，为其实际应用提供可靠的理论依据。

关键词: 海水激活电池, 数值模拟, 优化, 对流, 传质, 电化学

CLC Number:

TM 911.16

Peiqiang CHEN, Qun ZHENG, Yuting JIANG, Chunhua XIONG, Jinmao CHEN, Xudong WANG, Long HUANG, Man RUAN, Wanli XU. Effects of electrolyte flow rate and current density on the output performance of seawater-activated batteries[J]. CIESC Journal, 2025, 76(7): 3235-3245.

陈培强, 郑群, 姜玉廷, 熊春华, 陈今茂, 王旭东, 黄龙, 阮曼, 徐万里. 电液流量及电流密度对海水激活电池输出特性的影响[J]. 化工学报, 2025, 76(7): 3235-3245.

Figures/Tables 15

Fig.1 Seawater activated battery and its discharge principle

Table 1 Geometric parameters of the model

参数	数值/mm
阳极长度	100
阳极宽度	100
阳极厚度	0.25
阴极长度	100
阴极宽度	100
阴极厚度	1
阴阳极间隔	0.5
进口直径	12
出口直径	12
进出口处直流道宽度	3
进出口处弧形流道宽度	4

Fig.2 Computation mesh and independence verification

Table 2 Electrochemical and kinetic parameters

参数	数值
开路电压/V	2.06
OH^-浓度/(mol/L)	4
阴极孔隙率	0.56
电解液密度/(kg/m³)	1250
电解液比热容/(J/kg·K)	4182
电解液动力黏性系数/(kg/(m·s))	0.0025
压力/Pa	101325
运行温度/℃	80

Fig.3 Schematic diagram of the experimental system

Fig.4 Model validation

Fig.5 Changes of battery discharge voltage with time at different flow rates (500 mA/cm2)

Fig.6 Distribution of EE, Wpump, EU and EM under different flow rates (500 mA/cm2)

Fig.7 Distribution of electro-hydraulic velocity and ion concentration in the reaction zone between plates at different flow rates

Fig.8 Velocity distribution near the inlet 2 mm under different flow rates (500 mA/cm2)

Fig.9 Constant current discharge at different current densities

Fig.10 Distribution of battery discharge voltage, EW, EE and discharge time under different current densities

Fig.11 Cloud map of ion concentration distribution in the reaction zone between plates under different current densities

Table 3 Comprehensive evaluation results

评价指标	权重系数	方案	综合评价值
功率密度	0.3767	250~100	0.659
能量密度	0.2225	250~200	0.680
电解液利用率	0.2004	250~300	0.731
有效放电容量	0.2004	250~400	0.751
—	—	250~500	0.785
—	—	250~600	0.808
—	—	250~700	0.770
—	—	250~800	0.807
—	—	250~900	0.702
—	—	250~1000	0.409

Fig.12 EEint distribution under different flow and current densities

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