Self-Discharge of a Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzer: Investigation for Modeling Purposes

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Electrochemical Engineering
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Self-discharge, a decrease in open-circuit voltage (OCV), is well-documented in batteries and supercapacitors.
• This phenomenon has not been previously investigated in electrolyzer systems.
• Understanding self-discharge is crucial for accurate modeling and performance prediction of electrochemical devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the self-discharge voltage phenomenon in proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers.
• To develop and validate a model for predicting self-discharge voltage in PEM electrolyzers.
• To enhance the reliability of PEM electrolyzer simulations by incorporating self-discharge modeling.

Main Methods:

• Experimental analysis of open-circuit voltage (OCV) decrease in a commercial PEM electrolyzer.
• Development of a mathematical model based on experimental data.
• Comparison of model predictions with experimental results to assess accuracy.

Main Results:

• The study successfully characterized the self-discharge voltage drop in a commercial PEM electrolyzer.
• A novel model was developed and validated against experimental data, demonstrating effectiveness.
• The model accurately captures the OCV decrease during self-discharge.

Conclusions:

• Self-discharge is a relevant phenomenon in PEM electrolyzers that requires consideration.
• The developed model provides a reliable tool for simulating PEM electrolyzer behavior, including self-discharge.
• Incorporating self-discharge modeling enhances the predictive accuracy of PEM electrolyzer performance simulations.