Induced Flow and Coalescence Effects on Hydrogen Bubble Size Distribution Around a Single Wire Electrode in Alkaline Water Electrolysis.+
(2025) Chemical Engineering Science — Vol. 311, p. 121598 (2025)
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- Authors
Van De Velde, Pierre 
- Abstract
- In this study, we experimentally and theoretically examine the hydrogen bubble generation around a single horizontal wire electrode during alkaline water electrolysis. Wires form the elementary bricks of more complex mesh electrodes used in industrial systems. When detaching, the bubbles form a quasi 2D bubble curtain from which we measure the bubble size distributions at different current densities and electrolyte concentrations. Increasing the current density leads to larger and more disperse bubble sizes. This effect is stronger at low KOH concentrations for which we observe many coalescence events at the wire apex. We rationalize our observations by modeling the flow induced by the bubble curtain and using population balance equations to quantify how coalescence changes the bubble size distribution.
- Affiliations
Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) TIPs
Citations
Van De Velde, P., Scheid, B., Proost, J., & Haut, B. (2025). Induced Flow and Coalescence Effects on Hydrogen Bubble Size Distribution Around a Single Wire Electrode in Alkaline Water Electrolysis.+. Chemical Engineering Science, 311, 121598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2025.121598 (Original work published 2025)