PEM Electrolysis Cell Temperature Estimation Without Direct Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inability to accurately measure the temperature within electrolysis cells, particularly at the membrane, leads to inefficient operation and degradation in PEM electrolysis plants due to inadequate temperature control, which is crucial for membrane longevity.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a digital twin model to determine virtual cell temperatures based on real-world operating parameters, enabling real-time temperature monitoring and control to prevent overheating and reduce degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If temperature is increased to improve electrolysis efficiency, then hydrogen production increases, but membrane degradation accelerates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical temperature sensors with a digital twin model that uses electrical measurements (voltage, current) and operating parameters to infer temperature. This substitution allows temperature monitoring without direct thermal contact, enabling precise control to maximize hydrogen production while preventing membrane degradation through accurate temperature awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from direct thermal sensing to electrical and operational parameter monitoring. By measuring voltage, current, and other electrical parameters and processing them through a digital twin model, the system indirectly determines temperature, allowing optimization of the temperature-hydrogen production-membrane longevity relationship.
2Measurement precision
If physical temperature sensors are installed to measure membrane temperature, then temperature monitoring accuracy improves, but system complexity and measurement difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex physical temperature sensing infrastructure with a computational model that processes existing electrical measurements. The digital twin model uses voltage, current, and operational data to calculate temperature, eliminating the need for intrusive thermal sensors and reducing system complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy (digital twin) of the physical electrolysis cell that replicates its thermal behavior. This digital model receives electrical and operational inputs and produces temperature outputs, providing an accurate temperature representation without requiring physical sensors in the harsh chemical environment.
3Ease of operation
If block temperature is used as a proxy for membrane temperature, then measurement simplicity is maintained, but temperature control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the simplistic block temperature assumption with a sophisticated digital twin model that processes multiple electrical and operational parameters. This substitution transforms temperature monitoring from a crude proxy measurement to a precise calculation based on actual cell conditions, enabling accurate membrane temperature determination while maintaining ease of operation through automated computational processing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise temperature management within electrolysis cells, reducing degradation and improving efficiency by preventing excessive temperatures, especially during fluctuating load conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the temperature within the electrolysis cell cannot be measured, or only very inadequately
Implementation Method 2
A method utilizing a digital twin model to determine virtual cell temperatures based on real-world operating parameters
Implementation Method 3
water is converted into oxygen and hydrogen using electrical energy. This is also referred to as water electrolysis
Implementation Method 4
Within an electrolysis cell, the membrane typically has a higher temperature than the average temperature of the cell
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining a temperature for the operation of an electrolysis plant in which water is converted into oxygen and hydrogen in one or more electrolysis cells, in particular each having a proton exchange membrane, comprising: receiving real measurement data (310, 312) of one or more operating parameters of the electrolysis plant, which have been recorded during operation of the electrolysis plant by means of one or more sensors, determining, based on a model (300) of one or at least one of the several electrolysis cells, and the real measurement data (312) of one or at least one of the several operating parameters, virtual measurement data (320) of a cell temperature of one or at least one of the several electrolysis cells, and providing or outputting the virtual measurement data (320) of the cell temperature for the operation of the electrolysis plant.