Experimental Study on the Impact of Flow Rate Strategies on the Mass Transfer Impedance of PEM Electrolyzers

Haoyu Zhang, Jiangong Zhu (), Chao Wang, Hao Yuan, Haifeng Dai and Xuezhe Wei
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Haoyu Zhang: Clean Energy Automotive Engineering Center, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China
Jiangong Zhu: Clean Energy Automotive Engineering Center, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China
Chao Wang: Clean Energy Automotive Engineering Center, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China
Hao Yuan: Clean Energy Automotive Engineering Center, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China
Haifeng Dai: Clean Energy Automotive Engineering Center, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China
Xuezhe Wei: Clean Energy Automotive Engineering Center, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-11

Abstract: The flow rate strategies of deionized water have a significant impact on the mass transfer process of proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers, which are critical for the efficient and safe operation of hydrogen production systems. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is an effective tool for distinguishing different kinetic processes within the electrolyzer. In this study, three different Ti-felt porous transport layers (PTLs) are tested with two flow rate modes, constant flow (50 mL/min) and periodic cycling flow (10 mL/min–50 mL/min–10 mL/min), to investigate the influence of flow rate strategies on the mass transfer impedance of the electrolyzer. The following observations were made: (1) For PTL with better performance, the flow rate of the periodic cycling flow has little effect on its mass transfer impedance, and the mass transfer impedance of the periodic circulation flow mode is not much different from that of the constant flow. (2) For PTL with poorer performance, in the periodic cycling mode, the mass transfer impedance at 10 mL/min is smaller than that at 50 mL/min, but both are higher than the impedance under constant flow. The conclusions of this study provide a theoretical basis for the flow management of PEM electrolytic hydrogen production systems.

Keywords: proton exchange membrane electrolyzer; flow rate strategy; electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; mass transfer process (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: 2025
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