Numerical simulation of flow field in sodium electrolyzer

Abstract The complex flow characteristics within a sodium electrolyzer directly influence electrolysis efficiency and energy consumption. In this study, a gas–liquid two‐phase flow model of a sodium electrolyzer was developed in COMSOL Multiphysics. The standard k ‐ ε turbulence model was coupled with a Euler–Euler two‐phase flow framework to qualitatively characterize the overall flow field. Cross‐sectional profiles were then extracted to elucidate internal flow behaviours, and the impacts of key process parameters on the flow field were examined. The results show that increasing anode thickness and electrode distance both reduce the gas volume fraction and electrolyte velocity in the channel; lowering the cathode height effectively suppresses localized bubble accumulation and enhances flow uniformity; and raising the electrolyte liquid‐surface height leaves the gas volume fraction unchanged while diminishing the liquid velocity in the channel.