Three-dimensional simulation of alkaline electrolyzer with an advanced partitioned point flow channel

Alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) holds considerable promise for large-scale hydrogen production. Decreasing energy input and improving efficiency are inevitable in its further commercial development. As one of the critical factors for reducing energy consumption, flow channel design on bipolar plates cannot be ignored. This study utilizes a three-dimensional model for alkaline electrolyzer that couples electrochemical reactions with mass and heat transfer to approximate the real physical process and achieve reliable convergence. Integrating diverse turbulence units tailored to different local flow demands, an advanced Partitioned Point Flow Channel (PPFC) structure is proposed aiming at optimizing electrolyte flow distribution. Results reveal that PPFC's unique combination of turbulence units promotes lateral flow and electrolyte mass transfer rate, increasing electrolyte flow uniformity and hydrogen removal efficiency by 17.5% and 24.4%, respectively. Further comparative analysis with traditional designs shows an average diaphragm temperature drop of 4 K and a current density increase of 10.7% at a cell voltage of 2 V. These results indicate that PPFC offers significant advantages in reducing energy loss in electrolyzer.