Numerical Simulation of Pattern Accelerated Electroconvection

Electroconvection is an emerging topic of interest for engineers due to its great potential in industrial applications such as separation, desalination, fuel cells and, more recently by nanofluidic channels. Research has shown that Electroconvection can enhance ion transport at polarized surfaces and thereby shorten the plateau region of limiting current. The patterned surfaces with alternating permeable and impermeable regions can increase the ion transport and Electroconvection process. In this work, numerical simulation has been used to investigate and optimized patterned accelerated Electroconvection. An iterative algorithm is used for the robust treatment of the coupling of concentration and momentum. Linearization of electromigration fluxes helps in decreasing the complexity and faster convergence. The effect of patterned and homogeneous boundary on mean ion transport and current density will be discussed. Finally, we will discuss how to improve ion transport by having time-dependent Boundary conditions that regularize large-scale flow circulation cells.