Heat management system design and implementation in a PEM water electrolyser

Abstract

Green hydrogen has emerged as a real alternative for the decarbonization of industry, mainly Oil&Gas, ammonia and the transport sector. In addition, in situations of global crisis like the current one, it is a key tool to avoid being dependent on natural gas exported from other countries. That is why the European Union has set a production target of 10 million tons of green hydrogen per year by 2030. As recently as May 2022 the European Union signed a pact with European electrolyser manufacturers in order to reach this target as rapidly as possible. There are many ways of producing hydrogen, natural gas/coal reforming, biomass pyrolysis, but all of them involve the production or capture of carbon dioxide, in some way, water electrolysis being the most efficient way to obtain hydrogen without greenhouse gas emissions, in addition, water electrolysis has great synergies with renewable energies. This article is based on the study of the different parameters that affect the efficiency of the electrolysis process, focusing on the operating temperature control. A temperature management system has been proposed to maintain the stack at the desired operating point. The real electrical consumption data during the operation of an electrolyser under different ambient temperatures have been studied. Real evidence has been found regarding the relationship between external temperature and the efficiency of the electrolyser, leading to a more in-depth analysis to obtain efficiency correction curves based on the ambient operating temperature.