A multiscale physical model of a polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolyzer

• Published in: Electrochimica acta Vol. 110; no. November 2013; pp. 363 - 374
• Main Authors: Oliveira, Luiz Fernando L., Jallut, Christian, Franco, Alejandro A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-11-2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Assembly; Catalysts; Chemical and Process Engineering; Chemical engineering; Chemical Sciences; Electrodes; Electrolytes; Electrolytic cells; Engineering Sciences; Hydrogen production; Mathematical models; Membranes; Multiscale modeling; PEMWEs; Transition metal oxides; Transport; Water electrolysis; Water electrolysis; PEMWEs; Transition metal oxides; Hydrogen production; Multiscale modeling
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2013.07.214

In this paper we report a multiscale physical and transient model describing the operation of a polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolyzer single cell. This model includes a detailed description of the elementary electrode kinetics, a description of the behavior of the nanoscale catalyst–electrolyte interface, and a microstructural description of the transport of chemical species and charges at the microscale along the whole membrane electrodes assembly (MEA). We present an impact study of different catalyst materials on the performance of the PEMWEs and a sensitivity study to the operation conditions, both evaluated from numerical simulations and with results discussed in comparison with available experimental data.