Effect of flow-field pattern and flow configuration on the performance of a polymer-electrolyte-membrane water electrolyzer at high temperature. (3rd May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Hua; Nakajima, Hironori; Inada, Akiko; Ito, Kohei
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 43:Number 18(2018)
• Page Start: 8600
• Page End: 8610
• Publication Date: 2018-05-03
• Subjects: Flow-field pattern -- Flow configuration -- Optimization; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.02.171
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: This study aimed to optimize the flow-field pattern and flow configuration of a polymer-electrolyte-membrane water electrolyzer, with a particular focus on high-temperature operation up to 120 °C. Three types of flow-field pattern (serpentine, parallel, and cascade) were tested in both the anode and cathode sides of a water electrolyzer cell, and the current-voltage characteristics and high-frequency resistance were measured to examine which overpotential components are impacted by the flow-field pattern. The experimental results revealed that the cathode flow-field pattern only affects the ohmic overpotential, while the anode flow-field pattern significantly affects the overpotential related to liquid water shortage at catalyst layer, and the flow configuration (counter- and co-flow) does not affect the electrolysis performance. Finally, under operating conditions of 120 °C and 0.3 MPa, we found that the optimized cell configuration consisted of cascade and serpentine flow-field patterns in the anode and cathode, respectively; this configuration produced the minimum electrolysis voltage of 1.69 V at 2 A/cm 2 . Highlights: The impact of flow field on PEMWE performance was studied at high temperature. The cathode flow field pattern impacts on only the ohmic overpotential. The anode flow field pattern significantly impacts on the non-linear overpotential. Pair of cascade and serpentine patterns minimizes the electrolysis voltage.