A semianalytical method for predicting primary and secondary current density distributions: Linear and nonlinear boundary conditions

A semianalytical solution technique is presented for solving Laplace's equa tion to obtain primary and secondary potential and current density distribu tions in electrochemical cells. The potential distribution inside a rectang le with the electrodes facing each other between two insulators is presente d to illustrate the method. It is shown that the method yields analytic equ ations for the potential and the potential gradient along the lines. The un ique attribute of the technique developed is that the solution once obtaine d is valid for nonlinear boundary conditions also. The procedure is applied to some realistic problems encountered in electrochemical engineering to i llustrate the utility of the technique developed. (C) 2000 The Electrochemi cal Society. S0013-4651 (99)09-085-0. All rights reserved.