See How Multiphysics Simulation Is Used in Research and Development

Engineers, researchers, and scientists across industries use multiphysics simulation to research and develop innovative product designs and processes. Find inspiration in technical papers and presentations they have presented at the COMSOL Conference. Browse the selection below or use the Quick Search tool to find a specific presentation or filter by application area.


View the COMSOL Conference 2023 Collection

Batteries, Fuel Cells, and Electrochemical Processesx

Three Dimensional Modeling of PEM Fuel Cells with Current Collection from the Gas Diffusion Layer

R. Pushpangadan[1], A. Soman[2], Arundas R.[2], N. G. Thoppan[2], S. P. Duttagupta[1]
[1]Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
[2]College of Engineering, Munnar, Kerala, India

PEM fuel cells are very promising for portable applications. A key component of fuel cell is the flow field plate through which hydrogen will reach the anode, oxygen will reach the cathode and electron collection. Flow field plate made of silicon is not a good electrical conductor , so ... Read More

Modeling of Lead-acid Flow Battery

M. N. Nandanwar[1], S. K. Gupta[1]
[1]Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India

Failure of conventional lead-acid battery is attributed to degradation of solid active mass (PbO2 and PbSO4 ). A number of research efforts are underway worldwide to overcome degradation of active mass to improve the cycle life of lead-acid batteries. Soluble lead-acid flow battery ... Read More

Design and Simulation of Sensors to Detect Methanol

C. K. Subramaniam[1], Muthuraja[1]
[1]School of Electronics Engineering, VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India

The Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) working is dependent on the concentration of methanol in water before it is introduced in the anode. DMFC has a high energy density when generating electrical power from fuel, and is an attractive power source for portable devices. A fundamental ... Read More

Modeling of HTPEM Fuel Cell Start-Up Process by Using COMSOL Multiphysics

Y. Wang[1], D. Uwe Sauer[1]
[1]Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage Systems, Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives (ISEA), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

HTPEM fuel cells are considered to be the next generation fuel cells. The electrochemical kinetics for electrode reactions are enhanced by using PBI membrane at an operation temperature between 160-180 °C comparing to LTPEM fuel cells. But starting HTPEM fuel cells from room temperature ... Read More

Heat Pipe Assisted Thermal Management of an HT PEMFC Stack

E. Firat[1], G. Bandlamudi[1], M. Crisogianni[1], P. Beckhaus[1], A. Heinzel[1]
[1]Centre for Fuel Cell Technology (ZBT), Duisburg,NRW, Germany

Heat management is crucial for the satisfactory operation of HT-PEM (High temperature polymer-electrolyte-membrane) fuel cells. Current work investigates the use of heat pipes in a HT PEMFC stack consisting of 24 cells, each with an active area of 300 cm^2. Heat pipes are known to be ... Read More

Comparison Between Turbulent and Laminar Bubbly-Flow for Modeling H2/H2O Separation

E. Amores Vera[1], J. Rodríguez Ruiz[1]
[1]Centro Nacional del Hidrógeno, Puertollano, Spain

One of the most critical aspects on water electrolysis is gas-liquid separation, especially in systems with forced convection. The main problem of this kind of circulation is that a gas fraction could return to the electrolysis circuit. A suitable design of separator devices could be a ... Read More

Simulation of Current Density for Electroplating on Silicon Using a Hull Cell

F. Lima[1], U. Mescheder[1], H. Reinecke[3]
[1]Hochschule Furtwangen University, Furtwangen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
[3]Institut für Mikrosystemtechnik, Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany

Electrodeposition has a major advantage over other methods of thin film deposition. It allows deposition at atmospheric pressure and room temperature, requiring inexpensive equipment. However, there are several parameters which can influence an electroplated metal layer quality. The ... Read More

Dynamic Simulation of Electrochemical Etching of Silicon with COMSOL

A. Ivanov[1], U. Mescheder[1]
[1]Furtwangen University, Furtwangen, Germany

In the presented work the dynamic simulation of a silicon anodization process is performed. Two mechanisms of etch form development (diffusion in electrolyte, current flow) are considered and simulated. Influence of electrolyte conductivity and radius of the opening in the masking layer ... Read More

Kinetic Investigation of a Mechanism for Generating Microstructures on Polycrystalline Substrates Using an Electroplating Process

T. Soares[1], H. Mozaffari[2], H. Reinecke[1]
[1]Universität Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, BW, Germany
[2]Hochschule Furtwangen, Tuttlingen, BW, Germany

The purpose of this study is to understand the growth mechanism of copper (Cu) films on a Cu-Zn system substrate with a pre-defined pattern. The pattern was defined by conducting a selective etching process on a two-phase polycrystalline substrate. As a result of this process, there were ... Read More

Modeling an Enzyme Based Electrochemical Blood Glucose Sensor with COMSOL Multiphysics

S. Mackintosh[1], J. Rodgers[1], S.P. Blythe[1]
[1]Lifescan Scotland, Inverness, Scotland

This paper describes the modeling of a blood glucose sensor using COMSOL Multiphysics. Chemical species interaction and diffusion, coupled with electrochemical oxidation of multiple blood species produced a powerful working model used in developing and refining a range of blood glucose ... Read More