• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.302-307
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• 2021

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzer or alkaline electrolyzer is required to produce green hydrogen using renewable energy such as wind and/or solar power. PEM and alkaline electrolyzer differ in many ways, instantly basic materials, system configuration, and operation characteristics are different. Building an optimal water hydrolysis system by closely grasping the characteristics of each type of electrolyzer is of great help in building a safe hydrogen ecosystem as well as the efficiency of green hydrogen production. In this study, the basic operation characteristics of a kW class alkaline water electrolyzer we developed, and water electrolysis efficiency are described. Finally, a brief overview of the characteristics of PEM and alkaline electrolyzer for large-capacity green hydrogen production system will be outlined.

• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.137-143
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• 2021

As an electrochemical water electrolysis for green hydrogen production, both polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) and alkaline electrolyte are being developed extensively in various countries. The PEM electrolyzer with high current density (above 2 A/cm²) has the advantage of being able to design a simple structure. Also, it is known that it has high response to electrical output fluctuations. However, the cost problem of major components is the most important issue that a PEM electrolyzer must overcome. Instantly, there are platinum group metal (PGM)-based electrocatalysts, fluorine-based polyfluoro sulfuric acid (PFSA) membrane, Ti felt (porous transport layer, PTL) and so on. Another challenging issue is productivity. A securing outstanding productivity brings price benefits of the electrolytic cells. From this point of view, we conducted basic studies on manufacturing electrode and membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for PEM electrolyzer production.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.337-344
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• 2020

Worldwide, there is a significant surge in the efforts for addressing the issue of global warming; the use of renewable energy is one of the solutions proposed to mitigate global warming. However, severe volatility is a critical disadvantage, and thus, power-to-gas technology is considered one of best solutions for energy storage. Hydrogen is a popular candidate from the perspective of both environment and economics. Accordingly, a hydrogen production system based on renewable energy sources is developed, and the economics of the system are assessed. The result of the base case shows that the unit cost of hydrogen production would be 6,415 won/kg H₂, with a hydrogen production plant based on a 100 MW akaline electrolyzer and 25% operation rate, considering renewable energy sources with no electricity cost payment. Sensitivity study results show that the range of hydrogen unit cost efficiency can be 2,293 to 6,984 Won/kg H₂, depending on the efficiency and unit cost of the electrolyzer. In case of electrolyzer operation rate and electricity unit cost, sensitivity study results show that hydrogen unit cost is in the range 934-26,180 won/kg H₂.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 1996

Alkaline water electrolysis has been commercialized as the only large-scale method for a long time to produce hydrogen and the technology is superior to other methods such as photochemical, thermochemical water splitting, and thermal decomposition method in view of efficiency and related technical problem. However, such conventional electrolyzer do not have high electric efficiency and productivity to apply to large scale hydrogen production for energy or chemical feedstocks. Solid polymer electrolyte water electrolysis using a perfluorocation exchange membrane as an $H^+$ ion conductor is considered to be a promising method, because of capability for operating at high current densities and low cell voltages. So, this is a good technology for the storage of electricity generated by photovoltaic power plants, wind generators and other energy conversion systems. One of the most important R&D topics in electrolyser is how to minimize cell voltage and maximize current density in order to increase the productivity of the electrolyzer. A commercialized technology is the hot press method which the film type electrocatalyst is hot-pressed to soild polymer membrane in order to eliminate the contact resistance. Various technologies, electrocatalyst formed over Nafion membrane surface by means of nonelectrolytic plating process, porous sintered metal(titanium powder) or titanium mesh coated with electrocatalyst, have been studied for preparation of membrane-electrocatalyst composites. In this study some experiments have been conducted at a solid polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer, which consisted of single cell stack with an electrode area of $25cm^2$ in a unipolar arrangement using titanium mesh coated with electrocatalyst.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.206-211
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• 2015

For the hydrogen production, Gas Lab and Gnc make alkaline watrer electrolyzer and found optimized condition of experimental parameters of cell material and operating procedures. For the commercial production, we saved electric power consumption and caloric based efficiency with over 70%. Used cell pressures are 10 bar, 30 bar and consumed electricity is $4,000A/m^2$, 4.19 kW ($T=100^{\circ}C$) at 10 bar. Another data is $2,000A/m^2$, 3.92 kW ($T=95^{\circ}C$) at 30 bar. Applied voltage is 1.75 V ($100^{\circ}C$, 10 bar), 1.64 V ($95^{\circ}C$, 10 bar), 1.81 V ($85^{\circ}C$, 30 bar), 1.76 V ($95^{\circ}C$, 30 bar). As cell temperature increase, applied voltage has been decreased and current has been increased. The concentration of KOH solution is 30 weight %.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.243-251
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• 2023

Developing oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts is essential to accomplish viable CO₂ and water electrolysis. Herein, we report the fabrication and OER performance of Ni-foam (NF)-immobilized Ni₆ nanoclusters (NCs) (Ni₆/NF) prepared by a dip-coating process. The Ni₆/NF electrode exhibited a high current density of 500 mA/cm² for the OER at an overpotential as low as 0.39 V. Ni₆/NF exhibited high durability in an alkaline solution without corrosion. Electrokinetic studies revealed that OER can be easily initiated on Ni6 NC with fast electron-transfer rates. Finally, we demonstrated stable CO₂-to-CO electroreduction using an NC-based zero-gap CO₂ electrolyzer operated at a current density of 100 mA/cm² and a full-cell potential of 2.0 V for 12 h.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.34-50
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• 2022

Since the Paris climate agreement, reducing greenhouse gases has been the most important global issue. In particular, it is necessary to reduce fossil fuels in the mobility sector, which accounts for a significant portion of total greenhouse gas emissions. In this paper, we investigated the economic feasibility of green mobility energy supply chains, which supply hydrogen as fuel to hydrogen vehicles based on electricity from renewable energy sources. The design and operation costs were analyzed by evaluating nine scenarios representing various combinatorial possibilities such as renewable energy generation, hydrogen production through water electrolytes, hydrogen storage and hydrogen refueling stations. Simulation calculations were made using Homer Pro, widely used commercial software in the field. The experience gained in this study could be further utilized to construct actual hydrogen energy systems.