Effects of key design and operating parameters on the performance of the PEM water electrolysis for hydrogen production

Abstract

To enhance the efficiency of renewable energy utilization, surplus energy can be harnessed for water electrolysis to produce hydrogen, enabling electricity–hydrogen–electricity conversion. This study presents a model for hydrogen production through proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis using Matlab/Simulink. The simulated results closely match with experimental data, validating the feasibility and accuracy of the PEM electrolyzer model. Furthermore, the effects of operating temperature, pressure, and membrane thickness on hydrogen production rate and production efficiency is examined. Additionally, a quantitative model is established to assess the influences of these variables on hydrogen production efficiency. The respective indices for temperature, pressure, and membrane thickness are determined to be 0.9048, 0.7647, and 1.0099, highlighting membrane thickness as the most influential factor, followed by temperature and pressure. Simulation outcomes indicate that the PEM electrolyzer achieves higher hydrogen production efficiency in the case of elevated temperatures, reduced pressures, and thinner membranes. Moreover, a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) simulation platform is developed, enabling the rapid assessment of PEM electrolyzer performance under various operating conditions. These results provide valuable theoretical and methodological insights for enhancing the design of PEM electrolyzers when combined with renewable energy sources to produce hydrogen.