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

Xiaohua Wang, Andrew G. Star and Rajesh K. Ahluwalia ()
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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

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 13, 1-17

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.

Keywords: polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis; oxygen evolution reaction; IrO 2 catalyst and TiO 2 support; thermoneutral potential; stack/system turndown; operating temperature; stack/system efficiency (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: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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