Experimental dynamic dispatch of a 60 kW proton exchange membrane electrolyzer in power-to-gas application

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy 2020-03, Vol.45 (16), p.9305-9316
• Main Authors: Stansberry, John M., Brouwer, Jacob
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Electrolysis; Power-to-gas; Proton exchange membrane electrolyzer; Solar photovoltaic; Wind power
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.01.228

A 60 kW PEM electrolyzer was modified to have dynamic dispatch capabilities through the use of an external mass flow controller and was subsequently operated and studied in detail as a part of the UC Irvine power-to-gas (P2G) demonstration project. The system operated in load following for both rooftop solar PV output and aggregated wind farm power. The electrolyzer system was able to handle 100% up and down ramps of the electrolyzer stack in sub-second intervals during variable renewable energy load following experiments. Overall system efficiency was improved by imposing a minimum load condition to avoid high parasitic losses at low power conditions, and cycling the system off/on as required and enabled by quick cold start-up capability. Performance was characterized for varying levels of part load and dynamic operation. The gas drying process was found to be a significant source of loss at low power conditions. •A 60 kW PEM Electrolyzer system load follows solar PV and wind farm dynamics.•Cycling on/off from cold start leads to better electrolyzer efficiency.•Ancillary losses, particularly for H2 drying, dominate at low load conditions.•Mass flow controller-based control was used to dispatch the electrolyzer.•Operating conditions were varied and performance impacts assessed.