Power loss tracking for the PEM electrolyser using multiphysics dynamical bond graph model

Abstract

Green hydrogen generation using intermittent renewable sources through electrolysis faces challenges related to efficiency and reliability, largely due to material limitations and the fluctuating nature of energy inputs. These fluctuations disrupt continuous hydrogen production and increase the degradation rate of various components of the electrolyser, leading to power losses and diminished performance. To address this, a bond graph model-based power loss tracking approach is proposed to study the impact of degradation on Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyser performance. This approach enables real-time tracking of power losses at different subcomponent and physical phenomenon levels by accurately representing the system’s reaction kinetics and complex, nonlinear, multi-physical dynamics. Implemented in the 20-Sim software, the model benefits from automatic generation of governing analytical equations, enhancing usability and insight. A sensitivity study of the model has also been performed to analyse the responsiveness of the power loss trackers to the change in parameters. The model can serve as a valuable tool during the design phase, allowing engineers to analyse and estimate power losses under various operating conditions. A simulation-based validation was conducted within a green hydrogen production multisource platform, confirming the model’s capabilities. Due to its causal and structural properties, the developed approach has the potential to support diagnostics and prognostics of a PEM electrolyser.