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Thermal and electrochemical performance assessment of a high temperature PEM electrolyzer

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  • Toghyani, S.
  • Afshari, E.
  • Baniasadi, E.
  • Atyabi, S.A.
  • Naterer, G.F.

Abstract

In this paper, detailed effects of operating conditions and design parameters including temperature, pressure, gas diffusion layer (GDL) thickness, membrane thickness and GDL porosity on the performance of a high temperature proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cell (PEMEC) are studied. A CFD analysis is carried out using a finite volume method based on a fully three-dimensional model. The model is verified against experimental data and the realistic effects of varying operating conditions are considered. The results indicate that decrease of operating temperature from 403 K to 373 K results in reduction of hydrogen concentration at the membrane-catalyst interface from 2.2 × 10−4 to 1.9 × 10−4 mol/m3. The temperature and hydrogen concentration under rib area of channel are relatively higher due to the accumulation of water under this area that leads to higher electrochemical rate. An increase of GDL thickness from 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm at a voltage of 1.65 V leads to reduction of current density from 0.426 A/cm2 to 0.409 A/cm2. The porosity of the GDL has no significant effect on the polarization curve. The current density of the PEMEC for a membrane thickness of 50μm at voltage of 1.6 V is 48% higher than a membrane thickness of 200μm.

Suggested Citation

  • Toghyani, S. & Afshari, E. & Baniasadi, E. & Atyabi, S.A. & Naterer, G.F., 2018. "Thermal and electrochemical performance assessment of a high temperature PEM electrolyzer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 237-246.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:152:y:2018:i:c:p:237-246
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2018.03.140
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    Cited by:

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    4. Upadhyay, Mukesh & Kim, Ayeon & Paramanantham, SalaiSargunan S. & Kim, Heehyang & Lim, Dongjun & Lee, Sunyoung & Moon, Sangbong & Lim, Hankwon, 2022. "Three-dimensional CFD simulation of proton exchange membrane water electrolyser: Performance assessment under different condition," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 306(PA).
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    6. Atyabi, Seyed Ali & Afshari, Ebrahim & Wongwises, Somchai & Yan, Wen-Mon & Hadjadj, Abdellah & Shadloo, Mostafa Safdari, 2019. "Effects of assembly pressure on PEM fuel cell performance by taking into accounts electrical and thermal contact resistances," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 490-501.
    7. Abdollahipour, Armin & Sayyaadi, Hoseyn, 2022. "A novel electrochemical refrigeration system based on the combined proton exchange membrane fuel cell-electrolyzer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).
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    9. Apostolou, D. & Xydis, G., 2019. "A literature review on hydrogen refuelling stations and infrastructure. Current status and future prospects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1-1.
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    11. Liu, Xianyang & Zou, Jun & Long, Rui & Liu, Zhichun & Liu, Wei, 2023. "Variable period sequence control strategy for an off-grid photovoltaic-PEM electrolyzer hydrogen generation system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    12. Toghyani, S. & Afshari, E. & Baniasadi, E. & Shadloo, M.S., 2019. "Energy and exergy analyses of a nanofluid based solar cooling and hydrogen production combined system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 1013-1025.
    13. Sattari Sadat, Seyed Mohammad & Ghaebi, Hadi & Lavasani, Arash Mirabdolah, 2020. "4E analyses of an innovative polygeneration system based on SOFC," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 986-1007.
    14. Hassan Salihi & Hyunchul Ju, 2023. "Two-Phase Modeling and Simulations of a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolyzer Considering Key Morphological and Geometrical Features in Porous Transport Layers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-18, January.
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    17. Abdollahipour, Armin & Sayyaadi, Hoseyn, 2022. "Optimal design of a hybrid power generation system based on integrating PEM fuel cell and PEM electrolyzer as a moderator for micro-renewable energy systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).

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