A hydrodynamic model for water decomposition in electrolyzers with a solid polymer electrolyte

Abstract

A new hydrodynamic model for two-phase water-electrolysis filtration in porous electrocatalysts and current collectors using a solid polymer electrolyte has been developed. The model takes into account the effect due to the internal structure of the porous elements on gas-liquid distribution and transport and electrochemical characteristics. Owing to the finite hydrodynamic permeability of porous elements, a limiting mass-exchange current was shown to set in, with the voltage tending to infinity because of the electrolyte depletion within the electrochemical reaction zone. The efficiency of the porous current collectors of various types has been considered under specified process conditions using computational modelling.