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Prediction of shunt currents in a bipolar electrolyzer stack by difference calculus

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Abstract

A model for predicting shunt/leakage currents in a bipolar electrolyzer stack with dual electrolyte inlets and significant amount of gases in the outlet ports and manifold is presented. Model includes electrolyte, manifold and membrane separator as resistance components in the electric circuit analog of the stack. Activation overvoltage associated with electrodes is taken as Tafel-like. Current balance and potential balance equations are applied to the stack and difference calculus is employed to reduce the problem to a set of linear difference equations with constant coefficients. The model is validated with published results and the effect of each resistance component and number of cells on leakage currents in the stack is presented.

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Abbreviations

A e :

Area of the electrode, m2

b :

Constants in Eqs. 21 and 22

C j :

Independent constants to be determined from the boundary conditions

C j5 :

Constants in Eqs. 53–58

d :

Depth of the inlet/outlet ports, m

D j :

Constants that are functions of r j

E :

Difference operator

E j :

Constants that are functions of r j

E C :

Constant part of cell voltage, V

E n :

Cell voltage, V

E o :

Nernst potential, V

F :

Faraday’s constant, 96487 C mol−1

F j :

Constants that are functions of r j

g :

Function that accounts for the increase in electrical resistivity due to the presence of gases

h 1 :

Width of the inlet/outlet port at the manifold end, m

h 2 :

Width of the inlet/outlet port at the electrode end, m

i 1 n :

Cell current on the cathode side of the membrane, A

i 2 n :

Cell current on the anode side of the membrane, A

i o :

Exchange current on the electrode, A

I :

Direct current applied to the stack, A

I S :

Fraction of current lost in the form of parasitic currents

k n :

Leakage current in the cathodic inlet/outlet ports, A

K n :

Current in the manifold connected to the cathode sides of the electrolyzer cells, A

l n :

Leakage current in the anodic inlet/outlet ports, A

L A :

Gap between anode and the membrane , m

L C :

Gap between cathode and the membrane, m

L M :

Distance between two successive outlet ports, m

L n :

Current in the manifold connected to the anode sides of the electrolyzer cells, A

L P :

Thickness of the bipolar plate, m

L S :

Thickness of the membrane, m

N :

Number of cells in the stack

N M :

McMullin number

r j :

Roots of the characteristic equation

R :

Universal gas constant, J mol −1K−1

T :

Stack operating temperature, K

R A :

Resistance in the inlet/outlet port on the anode side

R C :

Resistance in the inlet/outlet port on the cathode side

R e1 :

Ohmic resistance in the cathodic electrolyte, Ω

R e2 :

Ohmic resistances in the anodic electrolyte, Ω

R M :

Manifold resistance, Ω

R S :

Resistance due to the membrane, Ω

α A :

Average volume fraction of O2

α C :

Average volume fraction of H2

α eA :

Average volume fraction of O2 in the anode outlet port and anode manifold

α eC :

Average volume fraction of H2 in the cathode outlet port and cathode manifold

α o :

Electrode transfer coefficient

η:

Electrode over voltage

θ:

Angle of the inlet/outlet port as shown in Fig. 3

ρ:

Electrical resistivity of pure electrolyte

i :

Pertaining to the inlet

e :

Pertaining to the outlet

n :

Pertaining to cell numbered n

A :

Pertaining to the anode electrode

C :

Pertaining to the cathode electrode

A :

Pertaining to the anode electrode

C :

Pertaining to the cathode electrode

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Acknowledgements

The second and third authors of this paper gratefully acknowledge financial support provided by the U.S. Department of Energy under Award Number DE-FC-14223.

Disclaimer: "This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof."

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Applied CFD Lab, GE Global Research, John F Welch Technology Centre Pvt Ltd, 122, EPIP, Phase 2, Whitefield Road, Hoodi Village, Bangalore, India

    Ravichandra S. Jupudi

  2. GE Global Research Center, Niskayuna, NY, USA

    Guillermo Zappi & Richard Bourgeois

Authors
  1. Ravichandra S. Jupudi
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  2. Guillermo Zappi
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  3. Richard Bourgeois
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Correspondence to Ravichandra S. Jupudi.

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Jupudi, R.S., Zappi, G. & Bourgeois, R. Prediction of shunt currents in a bipolar electrolyzer stack by difference calculus. J Appl Electrochem 37, 921–931 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-007-9330-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-007-9330-4

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