Subgrid Particle Intercalation

In batteries, such as Li-ion batteries, ions are transported across a separator and then intercalate into the crystalline lattice of the active electrode material, such as graphite. In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, this intercalation process is modeled by the Subgrid Particle Intercalation model.

The Subgrid Particle Intercalation model assumes that the active electrode material is composed of spherical particles. As a result, the particle concentration only changes in the radial direction. A diffusion transport equation is solved in spherical coordinates for the transport of ions into the active electrode phase:

1. EQUATION_DISPLAY
tVcdV=AD(c,T)cdA
(4147)
where:
  • c is the concentration within the active electrode solid porous phase [kmol/m3] .
  • D(c,T) is the concentration and temperature dependent molecular diffusivity [m2/s] .
  • r is the radial distance in the particle [m] .

For t>0 the boundary conditions are defined as:

2. EQUATION_DISPLAY
cr|r=0=0cr|r=Rs=Φ(t)D(c,T)
(4148)

and the flux is defined as:

3. EQUATION_DISPLAY
Φ(t)=N(t)Rs3(1χ)ηS
(4149)
where:
  • N is the bulk substance electrochemical reaction flux of the electrode material [kmol/m3s].
  • Rs is the radius at the surface [m].
  • χ is non-unity porosity.
  • ηS is the available volume fraction of the electrode material.