Modeling and optimization of high temperature proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cells

ABSTRACT

Although high-temperature proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cells (HT-PEMECs) have been promising devices to store energy in recent years, the effect of certain parameters on their performance is still unclear. Therefore, a 2D multiphysics model is adopted to study the related processes of electrochemical reactions in an HT-PEMEC. The model is validated by comparison with electrochemical experimental data. Subsequently, the effects of applied voltage, anode water mass fraction, anode gas velocity, and cathode gas velocity on the multiphysics are studied, and the trends of efficiency and conversion rate are analyzed. Thermoneutral voltage is observed through a parametric study. Moreover, the maximum energy efficiency (54.5%) is obtained by optimizing the operating conditions. This study can be regarded as a foundation for the subsequent control and multi-objective optimization research.

KEYWORDS:

• Multiphysics model
• proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cell
• high temperature electrolysis
• optimal operating conditions
• energy efficiency

Highlights

• The effects of voltage, anode gas composition, anode gas velocity, and cathode gas velocity on the multiphysics field are studied.

• The efficiency and conversion rate are predicted under different operating conditions.

• The optimal operating point is found to achieve maximum energy efficiency.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (61873323, 61773174, 61573162), the Wuhan science and technology plan project (2018010401011292). M. Ni thanks the funding support from Research Grant Council (Project Number: PolyU 152214/17E), University Grants Committee, Hong Kong SAR.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Research Grants Council of the University Grants Committee.