Comsol simulation software gains battery/fuel-cell module

The battery/fuel-cell module extends Comsol Multiphysics with predefined couplings of electrochemical reactions.

Comsol has released an add-on module for the Comsol Multiphysics modeling and simulation environment that enables the setup, simulation, and study of all major electrochemical batteries and fuel cells, including lithium-ion batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, solid-oxide fuel cells, and proton-exchange membrane fuel cells. The optional module provides a full set of tools that lets you investigate in deep detail the influence of different materials, geometric configurations, and operating conditions on the performance of batteries and fuel cells.

The battery/fuel-cell module extends Comsol Multiphysics with predefined couplings of electrochemical reactions, flow, heat transfer, and electric fields. You can leverage this combination to quickly set up and model the behavior of battery and fuel-cell designs using real-world materials and operating conditions.

These built-in physical interfaces include descriptions of the electrochemical reactions and the transport properties that influence the performance of batteries and fuel cells. The described transport phenomena are chemical species transport, charge transport, heat transfer, and fluid flow. Electrode reactions, which are fully coupled to the transport phenomena, provide full descriptions of the electrode kinetics, including activation and concentration over-potential.

A complementary model library provides tutorials for the following electrochemical cells: molten-carbonate fuel cells, direct-methanol fuel cells, proton-exchange membrane fuel cells, solid-oxide fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, and nickel-metal hydride batteries.

For more information about the battery/fuel-cell module for Comsol Multiphysics, go to www.comsol.com/products/batteries-fuel-cells.