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Multiphysics model for detailed analysis of Zn-Air Flow Batteries

Jacopo Strada, Politecnico di Milano

This 3D multiphysics model of a Zinc-Air Flow Battery (ZAFB) is developed to capture the coupled transport, fluid dynamic, and electrochemical phenomena governing device performance. The model integrates fluid flow, species transport for both liquid and gaseous species, gas-liquid interactions, and charge and heat conservation within the cell architecture, enabling a comprehensive analysis of system behaviour under a wide range of operating conditions.

A key feature of the proposed framework is the explicit representation of the flowing electrolyte and the spatial distribution of dissolved species within the cell compartment, together with their interaction with the porous air electrode, where gas diffusion and liquid-phase transport coexist. The model accounts for convective and diffusive transport mechanisms, pressure-driven flow, and the effects of cell geometry, electrolyte flow rate, and temperature on local velocity and concentration fields.

The simulation provides spatially resolved insights into mass transport limitations and allows the identification of performance-limiting factors, including the influence of operating parameters (flow rate, air pressure, and temperature). This enables systematic investigation and optimization of design and operating strategies to enhance efficiency and stability.

The model is extended through a parametrization step for the applied current density, that enables the computation of polarization curves, allowing a quantitative assessment of device performance across different operating conditions.

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