Numeric Simulation of Natural Convection in Horizontal Layer of Binary Electrolyte at Constant Cell Voltage

Abstract

Space dissipative structures resulting from convective instability of a binary electrolyte solution between two horizontal plane electrodes at a constant cell voltage are discussed. A system of hydrodynamic nonlinear equations is numerically integrated on a computer by the finite-difference method with spatial grid of 20 × 20. A relation between the applied voltage and Raleigh number is presented. The time dependences of current and electrode polarization during system relaxation towards steady state are obtained. The dependence of the electrode process acceleration due to natural convection on the applied voltage is found. The steady-state isolines of functions of current and concentration are constructed for some voltages. At too high Raleigh numbers, transition is observed to a turbulent mode.