전기 엔지니어링(Electrical Engineering)

Types of Electrolyzers within the Hydrogen economy

Min,P.E. 2023. 10. 12. 13:08
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Hi everyone, this is Min,P.E. and I am writing this post on "Types of Electrolyzers within Hydrogen Economics".

There are three main types of electrolyzers used in the hydrogen economy: alkaline, proton exchange membrane (PEM), and solid oxide.

Reference : Gallandat, Noris & Romanowicz, Krzysztof & Züttel, Andreas. (2017). An Analytical Model for the Electrolyser Performance Derived from Materials Parameters. Journal of Power and Energy Engineering. 05. 34-49. 10.4236/jpee.2017.510003.
  • Alkaline electrolyzers are the oldest and most mature technology, and they are currently the most widely used type of electrolyzer. Alkaline electrolyzers use a liquid alkaline electrolyte, such as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide, to conduct ions between the electrodes. Alkaline electrolyzers are relatively inexpensive and efficient, but they operate at a lower electrical efficiency than other types of electrolyzers.
  • PEM electrolyzers are a newer technology, but they have quickly become popular due to their high electrical efficiency and fast response time. PEM electrolyzers use a solid polymer electrolyte membrane to conduct ions between the electrodes. PEM electrolyzers are more expensive than alkaline electrolyzers, but they are also more efficient and can be used for a wider range of applications.
  • Solid oxide electrolyzers (SOECs) are the most efficient type of electrolyzer, but they are also the most expensive and require high temperatures to operate. SOECs use a solid oxide ceramic electrolyte to conduct ions between the electrodes. SOECs are still under development, but they have the potential to be the most cost-effective type of electrolyzer for large-scale hydrogen production.

The type of electrolyzer that is best suited for a particular application depends on a number of factors, including the scale of the project, the operating environment, and the cost of electricity.

For example, alkaline electrolyzers are a good choice for small-scale hydrogen production applications, while PEM electrolyzers are a good choice for medium- to large-scale applications. SOECs are still under development, but they have the potential to be the best choice for large-scale hydrogen production applications in the future.

Here is a table that summarizes the key characteristics of the three main types of electrolyzers:

 

Type                      Electrolyte                                          Operating temperature (°C)         Electrical efficiency (%)
Alkaline Potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide 60-90 60-70
PEM Solid polymer electrolyte membrane 60-80 70-80
SOEC Solid oxide ceramic electrolyte 700-800 80-90

The hydrogen economy is a vision for a future energy system in which hydrogen is used as a clean and sustainable energy carrier. Electrolyzers play a key role in the hydrogen economy by producing hydrogen from water using renewable energy sources. As the hydrogen economy develops, electrolyzers will become increasingly important for producing clean and sustainable hydrogen.

This is the end of this post and i will also let you know further with continued posting with hydrogen economy.

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