Exploring the bubble-electrolyte interplay in membrane electrolyzers: PIV measurement of electrolyte flow regimes

Gas-evolving electrochemical processes, such as water-splitting, are heavily affected by the presence of gas bubbles. Detached electrogenerated bubbles alter electrolyte conductivity, and attached bubbles reduce the active electrode surface area. However, due to the complex interaction between gas bubbles and electrolyte flow, estimating gas phase fractions and flow patterns within membrane-separated parallel plate electrolyzers is challenging. Utilizing a partially transparent electrolyzer equipped with a 5k high-speed camera, this work applies particle image velocimetry (PIV) to capture time-averaged detailed flow fields across different current densities, superficial electrolyte velocities, heights, and electrode-membrane gaps. The findings reveal distinct flow regimes transforming from quasi-steady segregated flows under no net flow conditions into pseudo-turbulent flows with increased forced convection. Moreover, variations in current density, superficial electrolyte velocity, and electrode-membrane gap are shown to critically define the upward flow regime’s width and turbulence levels. Out of all studied parameters, we found the superficial electrolyte velocity to be the predominant factor for the width of the bubble curtain. The presented findings support understanding bubble-electrolyte interactions, flow patterns, and gas phase distribution in parallel-plate electrolyzers. • PIV measurement of electrolyte flow pattern in membrane electrolyzer. • Investigation of different superficial electrolyte velocities, current densities and electrode gaps. • Transition of flow pattern from segregated to pseudo-turbulent and homogeneously dispersed. • Superficial electrolyte velocity is the decisive parameter.