Hydrogen permeation in PEM electrolyzer cells operated at asymmetric pressure conditions

authored by: P. Trinke, B. Bensmann, S. Reichstein, R. Hanke-Rauschenbach, K. Sundmacher
Abstract: The present contribution investigates the hydrogen permeation through a fumea EF-40 catalyst coated membrane during PEM water electrolysis. The permeation is characterized at different temperatures and different pressure gradients across the membrane. The measured permeation fluxes show a quadratic dependence on the pressure difference. A permeation model combining a diffusive and convective transport can describe the experimental data quantitatively. The determined diffusive permeability coefficient K_P,diff^eff = 2.95 × 10^-14 mol/(m s Pa)at 60 °C and its temperature dependence agrees very well with literature values. A convective permeability coefficient of the membrane is proposed for the description of the quadratic dependence. The obtained convective permeability coefficient K_P,conv^eff = 9.02 × 10^-21 mol/(m s Pa²)at 60 °C indicates a high hydraulic permeability in comparison with recently reported values. This high hydraulic permeability can be attributed especially to the low equivalent weight of the investigated membrane. Additionally, the operating conditions are suspected to support permeation.
Organisation(s): Section Electrical Energy Storage Systems
External Organisation(s): Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg
Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems
Type: Article
Journal: Journal of the Electrochemical Society
Volume: 163
Pages: F3164-F3170
ISSN: 0013-4651
Publication date: 24.08.2016
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Surfaces, Coatings and Films, Electrochemistry, Materials Chemistry
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0221611jes (Access: Closed)