# Supercapacitor and an applied exterior magnetic field?

I'm curious of the effects of an exterior magnetic field to a Supercapacitor, in both states of charging & discharging.

If the Supercap. is placed inside an area where an exterior magnetic field $$\B_{ext}\$$ is applied, while the capacitor is charged, and connected to a load, would the +/- ions move quicker(since the electrostatic force would push like charges away + the Lorentz force) from the double layer towards the electrolyte?

Likewise, for the case of charging, would the ions feel a force(Lorentz) while moving towards the electrode to form the double layer from their initial positions from the electrolyte?

Finally, if I moved the Supercap. in any state(charged/discharged) would the ions feel a Lorentz force(depending on $$\v_{SC}\$$)?

The exterior magnetic field can be in any direction $$\B_{ext}\$$ = $$\B\hat{i}\$$ , $$\B\hat{j}\$$ , $$\B\hat{z}\$$

• Any movement of charged particles like ions, electrons etc in a magnetic field will generate some effect. At the ionic speeds involved, and low fields involved, and large other effects involved (chemical, electrical), the effect on the operation of the capacitor will so infinitesimally small as to be totally, completely, and utterly negligible, undetectable and not worth considering. – Neil_UK Apr 24 '19 at 7:38
• @Neil_UK You should write that as an answer. Right now you simply claim they are insignificant - OP or anyone else has no way to counter that if it's not true, or expand on it with actual calculations. – pipe Apr 24 '19 at 7:41
• @pipe the lack of calculations is why it's a comment, not an answer. Please feel free to do the calcs, compare the Hall forces with the others, and write an answer. I figure my half a loaf is better to the OP than none. – Neil_UK Apr 24 '19 at 8:22
• @Neil_UK , I appreciate the "half-loaf" response, it is better than nothing. I reached to the same conclusion before, but I kind-off doubt it now. If I were to have a 3000F Supercapacitor that's capable of outputting high power(specifically 10kA of pulse DC) placed in a magnetic field of 0.5T or 1T it's really hard for me to see the effects being "negligible". It concerns me, or even if the Supercap. was part of a dynamic system and was "moved" certain stresses could be problematic, and could be internal w.r.t the Supercap. – e.d.m - II Apr 24 '19 at 12:06
• @e.d.m-II forces on ions and electrons within a supercap, being negligible compared to chemical and electrical forces so not disrupting operation of the supercap is one thing, Lorentz forces on a 10kA conductor is another. In a 1T field, a wire carrying 10kA will have 10kN/m force acting on it, probably enough to rip it from its connection points if not well restrained. The plates and electrlyte will have much lower densities of current, and being embedded in a solid construction will not feel anything like the same effect as a single wire. – Neil_UK Apr 24 '19 at 12:17