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MATLAB/Simulink Modeling and Experimental Results of a PEM Electrolyzer

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Article in Journal of Power and Energy Engineering · December 2016

DOI: 10.17265/1934-8975/2016.12.009

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Journal of Energy and Power Engineering 10 (2016) 779-785
doi: 10.17265/1934-8975/2016.12.009
D DAVID PUBLISHING

MATLAB/Simulink Modeling and Experimental Results

of a PEM Electrolyzer Powered by a Solar Panel

Mohamed Albarghot1, Mahmud Sasi2 and Luc Rolland1

1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, A1B3X5, Canada
2. Electrical and Computer Engineering, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, A1B3X5, Canada

Received: August 15, 2016 / Accepted: August 29, 2016 / Published: December 31, 2016.

Abstract: In this paper, the solar panels are used to power an electrolyzer to separate the water into hydrogen and oxygen gas. The
electrical equivalent circuit for the proton exchange membrane electrolyzer was developed and implemented in MATLAB/Simulink
along with the atmospheric hydrogen storage tank. The voltage (2 volt) and current (1 ampere) were supplied in a similar manner in
order to compare the simulated and experimental results. The hydrogen amount is calculated to be 7.345 (ml/min A) from the model
as well as the experimental set-up. The experimental and simulation results were matched.

Key words: Photovoltaic, DC/DC buck convertor, electrolyzer, hydrogen tank, MATLAB/Simulink.

1. Introduction consumption. In 2003, US electrical energy demands

were also reaching a higher value of 24% of total
World transport depends heavily on petroleum, as it
demand around the globe [2]. It has become essential
supplies 95% of total energy and is responsible for
to seek alternative sources of renewable energy that
almost a quarter of global energy-related emissions.
can be easily captured by using waves, sun and wind.
Marine ships around the world that run on fossil fuels
Statistics suggest that changing to fuel cell technology
are also causing many environmental issues. Over the
could save more than one million per ship per year in
past decade, transport emissions have increased at a
fuel costs. The sun, wind and waves provide an
faster rate than those of any other energy sector. The
unlimited source of renewable energy; solar energy is
transportation sector accounts for 28% of all US
known as the most sustainable source of the renewable
greenhouse gas emissions, 34% of all carbon dioxide
energy. For example, 27.7 GW of PV (photovoltaic)
emissions, 36-78% of the main components of urban
systems were installed worldwide in 2011. Compared
air pollution, and 68% of all oil consumption [1].
with 2010, there were also six countries where more
Global transport activity will continue to increase
than 1 GW of PV has been installed in 2011 [3].
along with economic growth. International freight has
Batteries are not the solution for energy storage
been dominated by ocean shipping, with ships
since they provide for short term solutions and waist
continually increasing in size and number. Fossil fuel
contents comprise significant and dangerous
usage also raises many important concerns and
pollutants. Hydrogen remains the only valid source for
challenges such as climate change and supply cost
energy storage. Producing hydrogen can be achieved
increases; for example, in 2002, the use of fossil fuels
in large quantities from water electrolysis knowing
was responsible for 86% of the world’s energy
that water is a clean resource available in large
quantities everywhere. Electrolysis will be studied to
Corresponding author: Mohamed Albarghot, Ph.D.
candidate, research field: renewable energy. be brought inboard vehicles such as cargo ships.
780 MATLAB/Simulink Modeling and Experimental Results of a PEM Electrolyzer Powered by a Solar Panel

This paper is aimed to improve the results of temperature plays important roles because the four
modeling the electrolysis system and obtaining parameters (Ir, Is, Rs, and Vt) are function of
experimental results. The set-up is powering the temperature. It is clearly seen that the lower
electrolyzer with a small PV solar panel that produces temperature is the higher power which is obtained
2 V and 1 A. The hydrogen was produced and stocked from the PV [5].
into the tank. The mathematical model of the electrolysis
2.2 The DC/DC Buck Convertor
has been implemented in MATLAB/Simulink. In
Section 2, the system component models are detailed. The buck converter is defined as step-down DC-DC
In Section 3, the simulation and experimental set-ups voltage converter. The average output voltage is
are described. In Section 4, we examine and compare always less than the input voltage. There are two
the simulation and experimental results. modes for the buck converter in terms of diode
circuits. In the first mode, when the switch is on, the
2. System Components
diode becomes reverse biased, so that the supplied
2.1 The Photovoltaic Solar Panel energy is stored into an inductor. In the second mode,
the diode becomes forward biased when the switch is
The solar energy is transferred directly into
off, due to the load; it receives the energy from the
electrical energy in the PV panel through a basic
inductor. The input stays isolated from the output [6].
physical process. The physical behavior of any solar
cell is very similar to the classical p-n junction diode
[4]. The relationship between the output current I and
the output voltage V is found the formula below:

 
I  I ph  Is * eVI*RS  / N*Vt  1  Is2 *
eV I*RS  / N2*Vt 

1 (V  I * Rs  / RP.
(1)

Fig. 1 Electrical equivalent circuit of the solar cell.

where, I ph is the solar–induced current that is equal

to I Ph0 * I r / I R 0  , where I r is the irradiance (light

intensity ) in W/m2 falling on the cell. I Ph 0 is the

measured solar–generated current for the irradiance
I R 0 . I s is the saturation current of the first diode.
I s 2 is the saturation current of the second diode. Vt
is thermal voltage that is equal to KT/q, where K is the
Boltzmann constant. T is the device simulation
temperature parameter value. Q is the elementary
charge on an electron. N and N2 are the quality factor
of the first and second diodes, respectively. V is the
voltage across the solar cell [4]. Fig. 1 represents the
electrical equivalent circuit of the solar cell [4]. The
I-V and P-V characteristics curves of the PV module
are used in this work under irradiance of 1,000 W/m2
at 25 °C as it is illustrated in Fig. 2. In solar energy, Fig. 2 I-V and P-V curves of the PV module.
MATLAB/Simulink Modeling and Experimental Results of a PEM Electrolyzer Powered by a Solar Panel 781

The purpose of buck convertor is to regulate DC 2.3 Electrolyzer

power supplies and to control DC motor speed. Duty
An electrolyzer is defined as an apparatus that
cycle (D) is known as the ratio of the ON time of the
separates the water (2H2O) into hydrogen (2H2) and
switch to the total switching time, and also the ratio of
oxygen (O2). Water electrolysis may be classified as a
output voltage to the input voltage. The duty cycle is
reverse process of hydrogen that is fed into a fuel cell.
also given by the following:
In terms of an electro-chemical reaction happening in
Vo I the fuel cell to generate DC electricity, it converts DC
D s (2)
Vs Io electrical energy into chemical energy stored in
hydrogen. An electrolyzer electrical circuit can be
where, Vo and Vs are output and input voltages,
represented as a voltage sensitive nonlinear DC load,
respectively. Is and Io are input and output current,
so that the higher voltage applied is the higher load
respectively [6]. The selection parameter of the buck
current that is circulating and the more H2 can
convertor is based on the voltage and current output of
be generated [7]. There are two types of electrolysis,
the PV. In this work, the PV output is designed to be 5
Alkaline and PEM (Proton exchange membrane), the
V and 2 A. Since the electrolyzer load is designed for
PEM cells are known to be reversible devices for
2 V and 1 A, it becomes necessary to select a buck
convertor in order to regulate the voltage and current. hydrogen systems when compared to alkaline-based
The values of buck convertor parameter such as the electrolysis. They also have many advantages like
inductor, capacitor, and duty cycle were obtained from Table 1 The values of buck convertor.
the website for desired input values for the Tem Value Units
electrolyzer. Table 1 shows the values of the selected Volts in 5 V
buck convertor. The buck convertor model is Volts out 2 V
Load current 1 A
generated in MATLAB/Simulink in order to control
Irms 0.99 A
the output and input between the PV and electrolyzer Duty cycle 36.11 %
as shown in Fig. 3. The PID controller is used to Frequency 40 KHz
check the error value as the difference between the L 87e-6 H
desired set point and the measured variable voltage. C 29.17e-6 F

Fig. 3 The buck convertor model in MATLAB/Simulink.

782 MATLAB/Simulink Modeling and Experimental Results of a PEM Electrolyzer Powered by a Solar Panel

operating conditions at room temperature of 20 °C and

1 atm pressure. It amounts to 1.223 V, which is useful
for electrolysis and hydrogen production. It is also
associated with electro chemistry, so that the one
molar volume Vm is known from the ideal gas
expression in Eq. (6) [8]:
R (273  T )
Vm  (6)
P
where, R and P are the ideal gas constant (0.082 l atm
k-1 mol-1) and pressure, respectively.
The hydrogen production rate which is VH (ml/min)
Fig. 4 Equivalent circuit for single PEM electrolyzer.
with respect to the input current I (A) is determined by
smaller dimension and mass, lower power Eq. (7) [8]:
consumption, lower operating temperatures [7]. The
 c 
equivalent circuit of a proton exchange membrane  I  
 10 ml  60s   s  
3
electrolyzer is created in MATLAB/Simulink in order V H  Vm ( I )  
to run the simulation. Fig. 4 shows the equivalent  l  min  2 F (C )  (7)
circuit of the single PEM electrolyzer [8, 9].  
In order to obtain the I-V and hydrogen production I
 Vm (10 3 )(60)
characteristics, some equations have been developed 2F
for steady state conditions and implemented in The electro chemical hydrogen energy per second
MATLAB/Simulink. Eq. (3) models the electrolysis PH2 which is equal to the VH is calculated by Eq. (8)
process and it is written as follows: [8]:

 1  I 2 FVi
V   * I  1.476  0.326 I  1.476 PH 2  Vm 103   60   Vi I (8)
 3.064  2 F Vm (103 )  60 
 IRi  erev
From the above equations, it can be clearly seen
(3) that the useful power which is delivered from the
Eq. (3) indicates a simple equivalent circuit model electrolyzer cell relies on the electrolyzer input current
for the PEM, which has an initial resistance of Ri, and I and ideal voltage Vi. The input electrical power P of
reverse potential erev. The ideal potential Vi (electro PEM electrolyzer cell, which is the function of the VH,
chemical) is calculated by Eq. (4) [8]: can be determined by:
G P  VI  I 2 Ri  Ierev
Vi  (4)
2F 2

where, ΔG is Gibbs free energy change (J/mol) of

 2F   2F  (9)
  Vm 3  Ri   VH 3  erev
hydrogen gas and F is Faraday constant (96,487 C/mol).  VH 10 (60)   Vm10 (60) 
If the water is in liquid phase, then ΔG for any given In this work, the reversible potential erev with
temperature T (°C) can be calculated by Eq. (5): respect to the ideal voltage Vi is calculated to be 1.476
V, and the resistance (Ri) of PEM subsystem also
G  285840  163.2273  T  (5)
equals to 0.326 Ohm at temperature 20 °C and 1 atm.
The value of Vi is calculated under nominal These values are well confirmed by the
MATLAB/Simulink Modeling and Experimental Results of a PEM Electrolyzer Powered by a Solar Panel 783

MATLAB/Simulink module. The input current I (A) 3. Simulation & Experimental Set-Up
of the electrolyzer is modeled by Eq. (3), and Eq. (7)
The simulation is done in MATLAB/Simulink
is applied for hydrogen production rates VH. For
environment by creating each component separately,
steady state operation, Eq. (10) is used to simplify and
so that the error can be easily controlled and the
determine the input of I-V model of the PEM
simulation blocks debugged. Each system block has
electrolyzer cell as function of pressure and
been implemented and studied to ensure that each one
temperature [8]. Fig. 5 illustrates the static model for
is sufficiently precise to run the simulation and to give
the PEM electrolyzer in order to compare the
adequate results. The modules for PV solar panels,
experimental results [9].
DC/DC buck convertor, electrolyzer, and the
V T , P   IR i  e rev T , P  (10) hydrogen tank have been created and well matched
with each other. The simulation is valid to model
2.4 Hydrogen Tank Modeling different cases. Fig. 7 shows the Simulink model for
the whole renewable energy system. Fig. 8 represents
Compressed hydrogen gas or liquid hydrogen can
be stored in tanks by using different techniques like
physical hydrogen storage [10]. In order to store the
hydrogen gas that is produced by the electrolyzer, a
dynamic module for the tank is created in
MATLAB/Simulink, and can be expressed as follows,
Eq. (11) [10]:

N H 2 RTb
Pb  Pbi  z  (11)
M H 2Vb
where, Pb is the pressure of the tank that is
measured in (Pascal), Pbi is the initial pressure of the
storage tankin (Pascal), R is the universal gas constant
(J/kmol·K), Tb is the operating temperature (K), Vb
Fig. 5 The MATLAB/simulink module for PEM
is the volume of the tank (m3), T is the temperature,
electrolyzer.
and Z is the compressibility factor as a function of the
pressure as shown in Eq. (12):

PVm
Z (12)
RT
where, P and Vm are the pressure and molar volume,
respectively. It has been noticed that this model
determines the tank pressure using the ratio of
hydrogen flow rate to the tank [10]. Eq. (11) is
implemented in Simulink in order to get the hydrogen
stored and delivered to the fuel cell or other
applications. Fig. 6 shows the Simulink model of the
hydrogen storage system [10]. Fig. 6 Simulink model of the hydrogen storage system.
784 MATLAB/Simulink Modeling and Experimental Results of a PEM Electrolyzer Powered by a Solar Panel

current (A), and the simulation results are in

accordance with the experimental results. Note that
the characteristic response is linear [8]. The amount of
hydrogen that is obtained from the simulation is 7.461
ml/min, and the value from the experiments amounts
to 7.0 ml/min. The discrepancy is due to the sun
variability. Fig. 10 illustrates the input power with the
hydrogen production (ml/min). It can be noticed that
Fig. 7 Simulink model for the whole renewable energy
the hydrogen production increases linearly with the
system.
input power; thus the power increases the hydrogen
production will increase as well. Table 2 shows the
hydrogen production (ml/min) from the experiments,
and the time was 2 min. Fig. 11 represents the
pressure inside the hydrogen tank model. The
hydrogen quantity increased with time.

Fig. 8 Experimental set-up for renewable system.

the experimental set-up for the solar panel, DC/DC

buck convertor, electrolyzer and hydrogen/oxygen
tanks. The experiments are produced with a horizon
kit. The reading of hydrogen production was reported Fig. 9 Current (A) vs. hydrogen production (ml/min).
in (ml/min). Each component configuration was
collected from the data sheets [11].

4. Results and Discussion

Hydrogen (ml/min)

The results from both simulation and experiments

are now compared. The maximum voltage from the
PV in experimental set-up is designed to be 2 V and
the current is reaching 1 A, however the maximum
power of the PV panel is depending on the weather
such as cloud and rain can reduce the collected energy.
In this work, the maximum voltage and current from
the PV panel were obtained and the electrolyzer was Input power (W)
able to generate hydrogen with maximum output. Fig. Fig. 10 Input power (W) vs. Hydrogen production
9 shows the hydrogen production (ml/min) versus the (ml/min).
MATLAB/Simulink Modeling and Experimental Results of a PEM Electrolyzer Powered by a Solar Panel 785

Table 2 Experimental results. Acknowledgment

Time (min) H2 production (ml)
2 13.99
The authors would like to thank the Libyan
1 6.995 Government for the financial support of this project.

Hydrogen pressure vs. time References

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