STUDY OF INFLUENCE OF FREQUENT START-STOP CYCLES ON DURABILITY OF 5 kW ALKALINE WATER ELECTROLYZER

Wang Sen; Gao Huifeng; Gao Dingyun

doi:10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2024-1678

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Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (1) : 42-47. DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2024-1678

STUDY OF INFLUENCE OF FREQUENT START-STOP CYCLES ON DURABILITY OF 5 kW ALKALINE WATER ELECTROLYZER

Wang Sen^1,2, Gao Huifeng^1,2, Gao Dingyun^1,2

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Abstract

A rapid frequent start-stop cycling condition (10 min operation followed by 10 min shutdown) was applied to investigate the impact of frequent start-stop operation on the durability of a 5 kW alkaline water electrolyzer (AWE). During a 100 h continuous test, the frequent start-stop condition increased the average cell voltage by 0.32 V with an average degradation rate of 3.2 mV/h, which is four times that under constant current density operation (2500 A/m²). The performance degradation of both cathode and anode electrodes was monitored using linear sweep voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results show that the degradation in AWE performance under frequent start-stop conditions is primarily attributed to the deterioration of the cathode electrode. This degradation is likely associated with the generation of reverse currents during the start-stop cycles. Therefore, this study highlights the challenges posed by frequent start-stop operations under fluctuating renewable energy conditions and underscores the need for the development of cathode electrodes capable of withstanding such conditions.

Key words

electrolyzer / hydrogen production / durability / frequent start stop / reserve current / mechanism research

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Wang Sen, Gao Huifeng, Gao Dingyun. STUDY OF INFLUENCE OF FREQUENT START-STOP CYCLES ON DURABILITY OF 5 kW ALKALINE WATER ELECTROLYZER[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica. 2026, 47(1): 42-47 https://doi.org/10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2024-1678

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