Feasibility Investigation of Thermal Management and Heat Recovery of Low-Temperature Hydrogen Electrolysis Systems

Electrolysis systems can satisfy various demand responses by transferring energy from renewable energy sources towards hydrogen production. However, the high cost of electrolysis technology remains a practical challenge. Effective thermal management is required to improve the overall energy efficiency of electrolysis systems and heat recovery techniques have been applied to provide heat as a byproduct, making them more economically competitive. An overview of the potential of thermal management and heat recovery for electrolysis systems is given in this study. Temperature control assists in keeping the stack operating at a higher efficiency while ensuring system safety, providing an optimal operation environment for electrolysis systems. The heat recovered from electrolysis systems can be effectively used to preheat the incoming feedstock or to integrate into district heating. Existing strategies for managing excess heat generated by electrolysis systems are introduced. The electrolyser technology still requires further improvements and could be better planned based on the information collected in this study.