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

Burin Yodwong, Damien Guilbert, Matheepot Phattanasak, Wattana Kaewmanee, Melika Hinaje and Gianpaolo Vitale
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Burin Yodwong: Group of Research in Electrical Engineering of Nancy (GREEN), Université de Lorraine, GREEN, F-54000 Nancy, France
Damien Guilbert: Group of Research in Electrical Engineering of Nancy (GREEN), Université de Lorraine, GREEN, F-54000 Nancy, France
Matheepot Phattanasak: Department of Teacher Training in Electrical Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB), Bangkok 10800, Thailand
Wattana Kaewmanee: Department of Teacher Training in Electrical Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB), Bangkok 10800, Thailand
Melika Hinaje: Group of Research in Electrical Engineering of Nancy (GREEN), Université de Lorraine, GREEN, F-54000 Nancy, France
Gianpaolo Vitale: Institute for High Performance Computing and Networking (ICAR), National Research Council of Italy, Unit of Palermo, 90146 Palermo, Italy

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 18, 1-14

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: PEM electrolyzer; Faraday’s efficiency; faradaic losses; crossover current; hydrogen flow rate; energy efficiency; modeling; gas pressure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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