Stand-alone PEM water electrolysis system for fail safe operation with a renewable energy source

A complete stand-alone electrolyser system has been constructed as a transportable unit for demonstration of a sustainable energy facility based on hydrogen and a renewable energy source. The stand-alone unit is designed to support a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) stack operating at up to ∼4 kW input power with a stack efficiency of about 80% based on HHV of hydrogen. It is self-pressurizing and intended for operation initially at a differential pressure of less than 6 bar across the membrane electrode assembly with the hydrogen generation side being at a higher pressure. With a slightly smaller stack, the system has been operated at an off-site facility where it was directly coupled to a 2.4 kW photovoltaic (PV) solar array. Because of its potential use in remote areas, the balance-of-plant operates entirely on 12 V DC power for all monitoring, control and safety requirements. It utilises a separate high-current supply as the main electrolyser input, typically 30–40 V at 100 A from a renewable source such as solar PV or wind. The system has multiple levels of built-in operator and stack safety redundancy. Control and safety systems monitor all flows, levels and temperatures of significance. All fault conditions are failsafe and are duplicated, triggering latching relays which shut the system down. Process indicators monitor several key variables and allow operating limits to be easily adjusted in response to experience of system performance gained in the field.