Heat transfer and thermohydrodynamic fluctuations in aluminum–air fuel cell

Numerical simulation and experimental investigation of processes of conjugate heat transfer, hydrodynamics, and electrochemical kinetics in an alkaline aluminum–air fuel cell are performed. A mathematical model of hydrodynamics, heat and mass transfer, and electrochemical kinetics in an alkaline aluminum–air fuel cell with regard to the temperature dependence of electrochemical kinetics of electrodes, the ohmic heat losses, the thermogravimetric convection in electrolyte, and water evaporation from the cathode surface is proposed. Three-dimensional nonstationary vortex structures producing temperature fluctuations of the hydrodynamic nature are developed in the region of the electrolyte chamber with unstable electrolyte stratification, which is above the heated electrodes. It is shown that the thermohydrodynamic temperature fluctuations cause fluctuations of net power of the fuel cell during discharge.