In some countries today, a power grid is not ideal for providing the electricity needed for electrolysis because of the greenhouse gases released. And also, the amount of fuel needed because of the low efficiency of the electricity generation process.
Read along to learn more about electrolyzers, their types, and their advantages.
What is an Electrolyzer?
The electrolyzer is a device that creates hydrogen by a chemical process (electrolysis) that uses electricity to separate the hydrogen and oxygen molecules that makeup water.
Electrolyzers can range in size from tiny, appliance-sized equipment which is well suited for small-scale distributed hydrogen production to large-scale, central production facilities that might be directly linked to renewable or other non-greenhouse types of power generation that emit gas.
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How do Electrolyzers work?
You might wonder about how electrolyzers work. Here’s how it works. The electrolyzer system generates hydrogen gas by electrolysis. The remaining oxygen is either released into the atmosphere or caught and stored to serve other industrial processes or, in certain situations, medicinal gases.
The hydrogen gas can be compressed or liquefied for storage, and because hydrogen is an energy carrier, it can power any hydrogen fuel cell electric application, including trains, buses, vehicles, and data centres.
An electrolyzer comprises a cathode (negative charge), an anode (positive charge), and a membrane in its most basic form. Pumps, a power source, vents, a separator, storage tanks, and other components are also included in the system.
Water electrolysis is an electrochemical reaction that occurs within the stacks of cells. Water (H20) splits into its component molecules, hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2), when electricity is applied to the anode and cathode across the proton exchange membrane (PEM) (O2).
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What are the 3 Kinds of Electrolyzers?
There are three main types of electrolyzers. They include:
- Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Electrolyzer
This is the electrolysis of water in a cell containing a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE), which is essential for proton conduction, product gas segregation, and electrode electrical insulation.
- Alkaline Electrolyzer
It’s a type of electrolyzer with two electrodes that operate in a liquid alkaline electrolyte solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH) or sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
- Solid Oxide Electrolyzer
A solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC) is a regenerative solid oxide fuel cell that produces hydrogen gas (and/or carbon monoxide) and oxygen by electrolyzing water (and/or carbon dioxide) using a solid oxide, or ceramic, electrolyte.
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What are the advantages of Electrolyzers?
The use of electrolyzers comes with some advantages. They include:
- The hydrogen that is created is extremely pure.
- It can be made on-site and at the time of usage, with no need for storage.
- It’s a lot less expensive than using gas from high-pressure cylinders.
- Electrolyzers are beneficial and excellent for usage in a variety of stationary, portable, and transportation-related power systems.
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Conclusion
Electrolysis is a popular method for producing hydrogen. Depending on the source of electricity used, electrolysis can produce hydrogen with zero greenhouse gas emissions.
When assessing the benefits and economic viability of hydrogen production via electrolysis. The source of the required electricity, including its cost and performance, as well as emissions coming from electricity generation, must be considered.
