Design of a flow channel with vortex generators for performance improvement of flow-electrode capacitive mixing under low pressure drop conditions

Salinity gradient power generation is a novel renewable energy technology that generates electricity by exploiting the disparity in salt concentration between bodies of water with high and low salt content, using techniques such as capacitive mixing with flow electrodes (F-CapMix). In this research, we conducted a comprehensive numerical analysis to examine the fluid dynamics and particle behavior of saline water and activated carbon within a flow electrode system equipped with vortex generators on the inner walls of the flow channels. The maximum and net power densities of the F-CapMix for a flow channel with vortex generators were evaluated experimentally. On average, the introduction of vortex generators into the flow channel resulted in a 35.6 % increase in the maximum power density of the F-CapMix compared to a plain channel. Furthermore, when a vortex generator was incorporated, the net power density, considering the pumping power, showed an average enhancement of 26.3 % at flow rates of 15 ml/min or less. Therefore, we anticipate that the flow channel with integrated vortex generators can be effectively utilized in the F-CapMix electrode system with a negligible impact on the pressure drop.