Resolving Anodic Current and Temperature Distributions in a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolysis Cell Using a Pseudo-Two-Phase Computational Fluid Dynamics Model

Lopata, J.; Kang, Zhenye; Young, James; Bender, Guido; Weidner, J. W.; Cho, H-S.; Shimpalee, S.

doi:10.1149/1945-7111/abfe7b

Title: Resolving Anodic Current and Temperature Distributions in a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolysis Cell Using a Pseudo-Two-Phase Computational Fluid Dynamics Model

Journal Article · Fri May 14 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/abfe7b· OSTI ID:1784887

Lopata, J. ^[1];

^[2];

^[2]; Bender, Guido ^[2]; Weidner, J. W. ^[3];

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^[1]

Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (United States)
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Univ. of Cincinnati, OH (United States)
Korean Institute of Energy Research, Daejeon (Korea, Republic of)

Expanding upon our prior experimental work, we constructed a three-dimensional model of a polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolyzer using computational fluid dynamics. We applied the assumption of pseudo-two-phase flow, the flow of two phases with equal velocity. Experimental data were used to obtain parameters and to determine the conditions under which this model was valid. Anodic distributions of current density, temperature, liquid saturation, and relative humidity were obtained at various flow rates. The overall current density and temperature difference from inlet to outlet at the anode agreed strongly with experimental measurements under most circumstances. This verification allowed us to further examine the apparent gas coverage calculated from experimental and model temperature data. Results suggested a low liquid saturation and low relative humidity at the anode due to the consumption of liquid water and water vapor. However, we questioned the accuracy of the pseudo-two-phase assumption at low water feed rates. We concluded that the model was applicable to systems with liquid water feed rates greater than 0.6 ml min^-1 cm^-2. Therefore, it is a fair screening method that can advise which operating conditions lead to excessive temperatures or drying at the anode, thereby promoting the longevity of the membrane and catalyst.

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Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: DE-AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 1784887

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-5900-78733; MainId:32650; UUID:6a716e06-914f-4a66-be2a-11dc18595e4f; MainAdminID:24491

Journal Information:: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Vol. 168, Issue 5; ISSN 0013-4651

Publisher:: IOP Publishing - The Electrochemical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Title: Resolving Anodic Current and Temperature Distributions in a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolysis Cell Using a Pseudo-Two-Phase Computational Fluid Dynamics Model

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