Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzer Emulator for Power Electronics Testing Applications

This article aims to develop a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer emulator. This emulator is realized through an equivalent electrical scheme. It allows taking into consideration the dynamic operation of PEM electrolyzers, which is generally neglected in the literature. PEM electrolyzer dynamics are reproduced by the use of supercapacitors, due to the high value of the equivalent double-layer capacitance value. Steady-state and dynamics operations are investigated in this work. The design criteria are addressed. The PEM electrolyzer emulator is validated by using a 400-W commercial PEM electrolyzer. This emulator is conceived to test new DC-DC converters to supply the PEM ELs and their control as well, avoiding the risk to damage a real electrolyzer for experiment purposes. The proposed approach is valid both for a single cell and for the whole stack emulation.

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Degradation Investigation of Electrocatalyst in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell at a High Energy Efficiency

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26133932 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (13) ◽

pp. 3932

Author(s):

Jie Song ◽

Qing Ye ◽

Kun Wang ◽

Zhiyuan Guo ◽

Meiling Dou

Keyword(s):

Energy Efficiency ◽

Single Cell ◽

Proton Exchange Membrane ◽

Cell Voltage ◽

High Energy ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Pt Catalyst ◽

Operation Conditions ◽

High Efficient ◽

Exchange Membrane

The development of high efficient stacks is critical for the wide spread application of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) in transportation and stationary power plant. Currently, the favorable operation conditions of PEMFCs are with single cell voltage between 0.65 and 0.7 V, corresponding to energy efficiency lower than 57%. For the long term, PEMFCs need to be operated at higher voltage to increase the energy efficiency and thus promote the fuel economy for transportation and stationary applications. Herein, PEMFC single cell was investigated to demonstrate its capability to working with voltage and energy efficiency higher than 0.8 V and 65%, respectively. It was demonstrated that the PEMFC encountered a significant performance degradation after the 64 h operation. The cell voltage declined by more than 13% at the current density of 1000 mA cm−2, due to the electrode de-activation. The high operation potential of the cathode leads to the corrosion of carbon support and then causes the detachment of Pt nanoparticles, resulting in significant Pt agglomeration. The catalytic surface area of cathode Pt is thus reduced for oxygen reduction and the cell performance decreased. Therefore, electrochemically stable Pt catalyst is highly desirable for efficient PEMFCs operated under cell voltage higher than 0.8 V.

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From rotating disk electrode to single cell: Exploration of PtNi/C octahedral nanocrystal as practical proton exchange membrane fuel cell cathode catalyst

Journal of Power Sources ◽

10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.10.010 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 406 ◽

pp. 118-127 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jue Wang ◽

Bing Li ◽

Xin Gao ◽

Daijun Yang ◽

Hong Lv ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Single Cell ◽

Proton Exchange Membrane ◽

Rotating Disk ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Rotating Disk Electrode ◽

Cathode Catalyst ◽

Disk Electrode ◽

Fuel Cell Cathode ◽

Exchange Membrane

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Nanostructured Ir-supported on Ti4O7 as a cost-effective anode for proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics ◽

10.1039/c5cp05296c ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 4487-4495 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Li Wang ◽

Philipp Lettenmeier ◽

Ute Golla-Schindler ◽

Pawel Gazdzicki ◽

Natalia A. Cañas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Proton Exchange Membrane ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Effective Catalyst ◽

Pem Electrolyzer ◽

Exchange Membrane

A cost-effective catalyst Ir/Ti4O7 with superior OER activity has been developed, by which the Ir loading in the anode of a PEM electrolyzer can be reduced.

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Faraday’s Efficiency Modeling of a Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzer Based on Experimental Data

Energies ◽

10.3390/en13184792 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (18) ◽

pp. 4792 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Burin Yodwong ◽

Damien Guilbert ◽

Matheepot Phattanasak ◽

Wattana Kaewmanee ◽

Melika Hinaje ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Pressure ◽

Hydrogen Pressure ◽

Proton Exchange Membrane ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Gas Pressure ◽

Operating Conditions ◽

Mechanical Resistance ◽

Pem Electrolyzer ◽

Hydrogen Crossover ◽

Exchange Membrane

In electrolyzers, Faraday’s efficiency is a relevant parameter to assess the amount of hydrogen generated according to the input energy and energy efficiency. Faraday’s efficiency expresses the faradaic losses due to the gas crossover current. The thickness of the membrane and operating conditions (i.e., temperature, gas pressure) may affect the Faraday’s efficiency. The developed models in the literature are mainly focused on alkaline electrolyzers and based on the current and temperature change. However, the modeling of the effect of gas pressure on Faraday’s efficiency remains a major concern. In proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers, the thickness of the used membranes is very thin, enabling decreasing ohmic losses and the membrane to operate at high pressure because of its high mechanical resistance. Nowadays, high-pressure hydrogen production is mandatory to make its storage easier and to avoid the use of an external compressor. However, when increasing the hydrogen pressure, the hydrogen crossover currents rise, particularly at low current densities. Therefore, faradaic losses due to the hydrogen crossover increase. In this article, experiments are performed on a commercial PEM electrolyzer to investigate Faraday’s efficiency based on the current and hydrogen pressure change. The obtained results have allowed modeling the effects of Faraday’s efficiency by a simple empirical model valid for the studied PEM electrolyzer stack. The comparison between the experiments and the model shows very good accuracy in replicating Faraday’s efficiency.

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