The Role of Operating Temperature on Pore-Scale Gas Transport in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Electrolyzers

Abstract

In this study, the effects of operating temperature on pore-scale gas bubble transport in a carbon-based anode porous transport layer (PTL) of a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzer is revealed using operando X-ray computed tomography (CT). Higher temperature operation (80 °C compared to 40 °C) led to a lower total gas bubble volume fraction in the PTL (0.25 to 0.17; 32% lower), which is attributed to improved water transport and gas removal. Higher temperatures led to fewer bubbles in the PTL (13% less at 80 °C compared to 40 °C) as well as a greater occurrence of smaller bubbles (35% increase in skewness of the bubble size distribution), and this behavior is attributed to faster rates of nucleation and bubble detachment from the electrode. The formation of gas slugs is also observed in the anode channels at 60 °C and 80 °C, which is attributed to the faster detachment and coalescence of bubbles from the PTL/flow field interface.