Dynamic Modeling and Control of Multi-Stack Alkaline Water Electrolysis Systems with Shared Gas Separators and Lye Circulation: An Experiment-Based Study

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Qiu, Yiwei, Li, Jiatong, Zeng, Yangjun, Zhou, Yi, Chen, Shi, Qiu, Xiaoyan, Zhou, Buxiang, He, Ge, Ji, Xu, Li, Wenying
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Qiu, Yiwei
Li, Jiatong
Zeng, Yangjun
Zhou, Yi
Chen, Shi
Qiu, Xiaoyan
Zhou, Buxiang
He, Ge
Ji, Xu
Li, Wenying
author_facet Qiu, Yiwei
Li, Jiatong
Zeng, Yangjun
Zhou, Yi
Chen, Shi
Qiu, Xiaoyan
Zhou, Buxiang
He, Ge
Ji, Xu
Li, Wenying
contents An emerging approach for large-scale renewable hydrogen production is integrating multiple alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) stacks into one balance-of-plant (BoP) system, sharing gas-lye separation and lye circulation components. While this configuration, termed $N$-in-1, reduces cost and complexity, its dynamic performance under fluctuating power remains unclear compared with conventional 1-in-1 systems. This paper develops a state-space model of the multi-stack AWE system, capturing lye circulation, temperature, and hydrogen-to-oxygen (HTO) dynamics, calibrated via experiments on a 4,000 Nm$^3$/h-rated 4-in-1 system. A nonlinear model predictive controller (NMPC) is then designed to coordinate inter-stack current distribution, lye flow, and cooling for load tracking and operational stability. Simulations on the experimental-validated model show that a $4$-in-1 system can achieve very similar performance compared to four parallel 1-in-1 systems. Differences in load-tracking error, temperature stabilization, and specific energy consumption remain below 0.015 MW, 0.346 K, and 0.001 kWh/Nm$^3$ under wind power supply.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2501_14576
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Dynamic Modeling and Control of Multi-Stack Alkaline Water Electrolysis Systems with Shared Gas Separators and Lye Circulation: An Experiment-Based Study
Qiu, Yiwei
Li, Jiatong
Zeng, Yangjun
Zhou, Yi
Chen, Shi
Qiu, Xiaoyan
Zhou, Buxiang
He, Ge
Ji, Xu
Li, Wenying
Optimization and Control
Systems and Control
An emerging approach for large-scale renewable hydrogen production is integrating multiple alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) stacks into one balance-of-plant (BoP) system, sharing gas-lye separation and lye circulation components. While this configuration, termed $N$-in-1, reduces cost and complexity, its dynamic performance under fluctuating power remains unclear compared with conventional 1-in-1 systems. This paper develops a state-space model of the multi-stack AWE system, capturing lye circulation, temperature, and hydrogen-to-oxygen (HTO) dynamics, calibrated via experiments on a 4,000 Nm$^3$/h-rated 4-in-1 system. A nonlinear model predictive controller (NMPC) is then designed to coordinate inter-stack current distribution, lye flow, and cooling for load tracking and operational stability. Simulations on the experimental-validated model show that a $4$-in-1 system can achieve very similar performance compared to four parallel 1-in-1 systems. Differences in load-tracking error, temperature stabilization, and specific energy consumption remain below 0.015 MW, 0.346 K, and 0.001 kWh/Nm$^3$ under wind power supply.
title Dynamic Modeling and Control of Multi-Stack Alkaline Water Electrolysis Systems with Shared Gas Separators and Lye Circulation: An Experiment-Based Study
topic Optimization and Control
Systems and Control
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.14576