The effect of Fe3+ contamination in feed water on proton exchange membrane electrolyzer performance

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 44; no. 26; pp. 12952 - 12957
• Main Authors: Li, Na, Araya, Samuel Simon, Kær, Søren Knudsen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 21-05-2019
• Subjects: Ferric ion contamination; PEM electrolysis; Performance degradation; Ferric ion contamination; PEM electrolysis; Performance degradation
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.04.015

The effect of ferric ions on cell performance of proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer (PEM WE) was studied by injecting Fe2 (SO4)3 solution into DI water to prepare different Fe3+ concentrations contamination (1, 10, 100 parts per million (ppm, molar ratio)). Results showed that there was clear cell performance decay with increasing Fe3+ concentrations, and the cell stopped running at 100 ppm Fe3+ concentration in feed water. With increasing temperature, the cell performance increased for a short period. With low Fe3+ concentrations, cell performance decreased with increasing current density, but with 10 ppm Fe3+ concentration and higher current density of 2 A/cm2, cell performance was enhanced. Therefore, both temperature and current density can make positive contributions to improve cell performance under the condition of contaminated feed water.
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•Cell performance decreased severely when the Fe3+ concentration increased.•Higher temperature could improve cell performance at low Fe3+ concentration.•Lower current density could improve cell performance at low Fe3+ concentration.•Equivalent circuit model were used to better describe the results.