X-ray measurements of gas distribution in a zero gap alkaline water electrolyzer

TL;DR

This study uses X-ray radioscopy to analyze gas distribution in a zero gap alkaline water electrolyzer, revealing how void fractions vary with current density and gap size, and comparing electrode types.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed 2D measurements of void fractions in zero gap electrolyzers using X-ray imaging, highlighting differences between electrode designs.

Findings

Void fraction increases with height and current density.

Void fraction in the gap is larger than in the bulk.

Zero gap configuration yields the lowest cell potential.

Abstract

X-ray radioscopy was used to measure the 2D projected dynamic void fraction in a zero/narrow gap alkaline water electrolyzer at a spatial resolution of 15 $\mu$m, for narrow gap sizes up to 300 $\mu$m and current densities up to 0.54 A/cm$^2$. As expected, the void fraction in the bulk was found to increase along the cell height and with increasing current density. The void fraction measured in the gap region (the space between the diaphragm and the electrode and its holes) was always larger than in the bulk. It hardly depended on the gap size at current densities below 0.3 A/cm$^2$. The lowest cell potential was measured for zero gap. No evidence of isolating gas pockets/films in the gaps was found. Liquid crossover and oxygen void fraction exceeding the hydrogen void fraction occurred for porous plate electrodes, but these phenomena were suppressed for perforated foil electrodes.