NREL 25-cm2 High-Pressure Low-Temperature Electrolysis Cell Hardware (Open Source)

This data resource describes an open-source cell hardware that enables low temperature electrolysis (LTE) testing at elevated pressures. Existing commercial options have several downsides when it comes to R&D testing. They are often not designed for repeated reassembly, may not be able to accommodate porous transport layers with different thicknesses, and do not give state-of-the-art performance. Therefore, this hardware was developed specifically with LTE R&D in mind and its design is being made available to the global LTE community. This work was planned and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's H2NEW consortium (https://h2new.energy.gov/).

The hardware design package (.zip file) details the drawings, auxiliary materials, and procedures required to fabricate, assemble, and operate the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL's) high-pressure low-temperature electrolysis cells. While the hardware itself—end plates, current collectors, flow fields, bolts and washers, tube fittings—is always the same, the assembly and operating procedures may change depending on the active materials being tested, especially for the membrane. Material-specific assembly and operating procedures will be posted to the H2NEW website as they are developed and validated.

Disclaimer:
The documents and drawings included in this download package describe a design for a low temperature electrolysis hardware that is intended to comply with leak testing according to ASME B31.1. Safe operation at ambient and elevated pressures is the sole responsibility of the end user, which should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for each individual cell. Factors affecting the sealing capability may depend on, for example, machining quality, cell assembly components, operating conditions, and operating history. Operation at pressure should only be performed on qualified test stands by qualified operators. NREL/ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC/DOE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND MAKES NO WARRANTY AS TO THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, OR USEFULNESS OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED HEREIN. USE OF THIS PACKAGE IS AT THE USER’S OWN RISK.