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Performance of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolysis Systems: Configuration, Stack Materials, Turndown and Efficiency

Author

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  • Xiaohua Wang

    (Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439-4858, USA)

  • Andrew G. Star

    (Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439-4858, USA)

  • Rajesh K. Ahluwalia

    (Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439-4858, USA)

Abstract

A cell model is developed and validated to analyze the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) stacks and systems. It is used to characterize the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity on a TiO 2 -supported IrO 2 catalyst and an unsupported IrO 2 powder catalyst. Electrochemical, stack, and system thermoneutral potentials are defined and determined for isothermal and non-isothermal stack operation. Conditions are determined under which the system thermoneutral potential or flammability of H 2 in the O 2 anode stream limits the stack turndown and operating temperature. Performance is analyzed of a complete PEMWE system with an electrolyzer stack containing an IrO 2 /TiO 2 anode catalyst (2 mg/cm 2 Ir loading) and N117-like membrane mitigated for H 2 crossover, anode balance-of-plant (BOP) components, cathode BOP system with temperature swing adsorption for H 2 purification, and electrical BOP system with transformer and rectifier. At the rated power condition, defined as 2 A/cm 2 at 1.9 V, 80 °C, and 30 bar H 2 pressure, the stack/system efficiency is 65.3%/60.3% at beginning of life (BOL), decreasing to 59.3%/53.9% at end of life (EOL). The peak stack/system efficiency is 76.3%/70.2% at BOL, decreasing to 71.2%/65.6% at EOL. Improvements in catalyst activity and membrane are identified for a 50% increase in current to 3 A/cm 2 at 1.8 V.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:13:p:4964-:d:1179892
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tjarks, Geert & Gibelhaus, Andrej & Lanzerath, Franz & Müller, Martin & Bardow, André & Stolten, Detlef, 2018. "Energetically-optimal PEM electrolyzer pressure in power-to-gas plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C), pages 192-198.
    2. 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.
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