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Improving the Efficiency of PEM Electrolyzers through Membrane-Specific Pressure Optimization

Author

Listed:
  • Fabian Scheepers

    (Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Institute of Energy and Climate Research, IEK-14, Electrochemical Process Engineering, 52425 Juelich, Germany)

  • Markus Stähler

    (Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Institute of Energy and Climate Research, IEK-14, Electrochemical Process Engineering, 52425 Juelich, Germany)

  • Andrea Stähler

    (Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Institute of Energy and Climate Research, IEK-14, Electrochemical Process Engineering, 52425 Juelich, Germany)

  • Edward Rauls

    (Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Institute of Energy and Climate Research, IEK-14, Electrochemical Process Engineering, 52425 Juelich, Germany)

  • Martin Müller

    (Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Institute of Energy and Climate Research, IEK-14, Electrochemical Process Engineering, 52425 Juelich, Germany)

  • Marcelo Carmo

    (Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Institute of Energy and Climate Research, IEK-14, Electrochemical Process Engineering, 52425 Juelich, Germany)

  • Werner Lehnert

    (Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Institute of Energy and Climate Research, IEK-14, Electrochemical Process Engineering, 52425 Juelich, Germany
    Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, 52072 Aachen, Germany)

Abstract

Hydrogen produced in a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzer must be stored under high pressure. It is discussed whether the gas should be compressed in subsequent gas compressors or by the electrolyzer. While gas compressor stages can be reduced in the case of electrochemical compression, safety problems arise for thin membranes due to the undesired permeation of hydrogen across the membrane to the oxygen side, forming an explosive gas. In this study, a PEM system is modeled to evaluate the membrane-specific total system efficiency. The optimum efficiency is given depending on the external heat requirement, permeation, cell pressure, current density, and membrane thickness. It shows that the heat requirement and hydrogen permeation dominate the maximum efficiency below 1.6 V, while, above, the cell polarization is decisive. In addition, a pressure-optimized cell operation is introduced by which the optimum cathode pressure is set as a function of current density and membrane thickness. This approach indicates that thin membranes do not provide increased safety issues compared to thick membranes. However, operating an N212-based system instead of an N117-based one can generate twice the amount of hydrogen at the same system efficiency while only one compressor stage must be added.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabian Scheepers & Markus Stähler & Andrea Stähler & Edward Rauls & Martin Müller & Marcelo Carmo & Werner Lehnert, 2020. "Improving the Efficiency of PEM Electrolyzers through Membrane-Specific Pressure Optimization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-21, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:3:p:612-:d:315077
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Witkowski, Andrzej & Rusin, Andrzej & Majkut, Mirosław & Stolecka, Katarzyna, 2017. "Comprehensive analysis of hydrogen compression and pipeline transportation from thermodynamics and safety aspects," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 2508-2518.
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    3. Xing, Lei & Shi, Weidong & Su, Huaneng & Xu, Qian & Das, Prodip K. & Mao, Baodong & Scott, Keith, 2019. "Membrane electrode assemblies for PEM fuel cells: A review of functional graded design and optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 445-464.
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    1. Makhsoos, Ashkan & Kandidayeni, Mohsen & Boulon, Loïc & Pollet, Bruno G., 2023. "A comparative analysis of single and modular proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers for green hydrogen production- a case study in Trois-Rivières," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
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    3. Scheepers, Fabian & Stähler, Markus & Stähler, Andrea & Rauls, Edward & Müller, Martin & Carmo, Marcelo & Lehnert, Werner, 2021. "Temperature optimization for improving polymer electrolyte membrane-water electrolysis system efficiency," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
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    7. Xiaohua Wang & Andrew G. Star & Rajesh K. Ahluwalia, 2023. "Performance of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolysis Systems: Configuration, Stack Materials, Turndown and Efficiency," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-17, June.
    8. Rauls, Edward & Hehemann, Michael & Keller, Roger & Scheepers, Fabian & Müller, Martin & Stolten, Detlef, 2023. "Favorable Start-Up behavior of polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolyzers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 330(PA).
    9. Burin Yodwong & Damien Guilbert & Matheepot Phattanasak & Wattana Kaewmanee & Melika Hinaje & Gianpaolo Vitale, 2020. "Faraday’s Efficiency Modeling of a Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzer Based on Experimental Data," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-14, September.
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