Develop High Efficiency Liquid-Feed PEM Electrolyzer Based on Integrated Flow Field (IFF) Structure

Polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis units are currently designed to require active water flow and phase separation, or are based on a passive vapor transport mechanism that inherently limits performance due to mass-transport limitations. ElectroChem has developed and successfully demonstrated a passive water transport Integrated Flow Field concept (its IFF Structure) that controls the flow of water through each cell, in a highly reliable, performance enhancing, and gravity independent manner. By enabling the passive transport of liquid water to and from the membrane, it simplifies the structure of the electrolyzer system while avoiding performance limits due to mass transfer problems that have plagued conventional electrolyzers.ElectroChem will develop a high performance electrolysis unit that is based on the passive transport of liquid water into, within, and out of the cell. A custom-designed IFF cell structure will be developed during Phase I to refine approaches to optimized performance under a wide range of conditions, including gravity independence, higher current, and prolonged-period stable operation. The Phase II program will focus on multi-cell stack development and higher pressure modifications in support of energy storage systems free of mechanical compressors and water circulation pumps.