Influence of Stoichiometry on the Two-Phase Flow Behavior of Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers

Olha Panchenko, Lennard Giesenberg, Elena Borgardt, Walter Zwaygardt, Nikolay Kardjilov, Henning Markötter, Tobias Arlt, Ingo Manke, Martin Müller, Detlef Stolten and Werner Lehnert
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Olha Panchenko: Institute of Energy and Climate Research—Electrochemical Process Engineering (IEK-3) Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich 52428, Germany
Lennard Giesenberg: Institute of Energy and Climate Research—Electrochemical Process Engineering (IEK-3) Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich 52428, Germany
Elena Borgardt: Institute of Energy and Climate Research—Electrochemical Process Engineering (IEK-3) Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich 52428, Germany
Walter Zwaygardt: Institute of Energy and Climate Research—Electrochemical Process Engineering (IEK-3) Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich 52428, Germany
Nikolay Kardjilov: Institute of Applied Materials, Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin, Berlin 14109, Germany
Henning Markötter: Institute of Applied Materials, Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin, Berlin 14109, Germany
Tobias Arlt: Institute of Applied Materials, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin 10623, Germany
Ingo Manke: Institute of Applied Materials, Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin, Berlin 14109, Germany
Martin Müller: Institute of Energy and Climate Research—Electrochemical Process Engineering (IEK-3) Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich 52428, Germany
Detlef Stolten: Institute of Energy and Climate Research—Electrochemical Process Engineering (IEK-3) Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich 52428, Germany
Werner Lehnert: Institute of Energy and Climate Research—Electrochemical Process Engineering (IEK-3) Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich 52428, Germany

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 3, 1-12

Abstract: In order for electrolysis cells to operate optimally, mass transport must be improved. The key initial component for optimal operation is the current collector, which is also essential for mass transport. Water as an educt of the reaction must be evenly distributed by the current collector to the membrane electrode assembly. As products of the reaction, hydrogen and oxygen must also be directed quickly and efficiently through the current collector into the channel and removed from the cell. The second key component is the stoichiometry, which includes the current density and water volume flow rate and represents the ratio between the water supplied and water consumed. This study presents the correlation of the stoichiometry, two-phase flow in the channel and gas fraction in the porous transport layer for the first time. The gas-water ratio in the channel and porous transport layer during cell operation with various stoichiometries was investigated by means of a model in the form of an ex situ cell without electrochemical processes. Bubble formation in the channel was observed using a transparent cell. The gas-water exchange in the porous transport layer was then investigated using neutron radiography.

Keywords: proton exchange membrane electrolysis; stoichiometry; neutron radiography; two-phase flow; flow regime (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: 2019
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