(169b) Hydrogen Production Modeling with Simscape

Hydrogen production using a proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzer is a clean alternative to steam reforming, as it yields oxygen as a byproduct, and the electricity needed for the electrolyzers can be generated through renewable energy sources such as wind or solar. To improve the efficiency of electrolyzers, mathematical models with various levels of fidelity can guide design decisions and determine operating points.

We present Simscape as a multidomain physical modeling tool to model a PEM water electrolyzer. In Simscape, systems are represented by graphical and functional blocks that correspond to physical components, and its multidomain modeling capabilities allow for modeling domains such as electrical, fluids, and custom domains that are relevant when modeling green hydrogen production and storage systems. In this work, the membrane electrode assembly is represented as a custom block. Other components, such as heat exchangers, the piping system, and the dehumidifier, are modeled using built-in Simscape blocks, and PID Controller blocks are used to maintain temperatures and flow rates at desired setpoints.