MAPUA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

SCHOOL OF ELECTRICAL, ELECTRONICS AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

Department of Electrical Engineering

EE153L / B11
ENERGY CONVERSION (LABORATORY)

EXPERIMENT 4

THE PEM ELECTROLYSER

DATE PERFORMED: 19 AUGUST 2016

DATE SUBMITTED: 9 SEPTEMBER 2016

SUBMITTED BY:
CAIMBRE, MARK ALWIN E.
2013107237
ECE/4
SCORE

ENGR. GEROME G. LAPADA

INSTRUCTOR
 EXPERIMENT NO. 4
THE PEM ELECTROLYSER

Objective

1. Understand how an electrolyser operates.

2. Determine the energy efficiency of the PEM electrolyser.

Theoretical Background

Electrolysis is a process by which electric current is passed through a substance to produce a

chemical change. The chemical change happens when the substance loses or gains an electron which is
known as oxidation and reduction. The tool used in order to perform the the electrolysis process is called
an electrolyser, which consists of a negatively charged cathode, a positively charged anode, and an
electrolyte.
 In an electrolyser, a solution is placed in a container and two terminals are dip into it. In order for
electricity to pass, the terminals are to be connected to a power supply or battery. Electrons enters through
the cathode; positively charged components of the solution travel to this electrode, they are combine with
the electrons, an then are transformed into neutral elements. The negatively charged components of the
solution travel to the anode to give up their electrons, and are again transformed into neutral elements.The
chemical reaction would take place through that process, and the solution would then be divided into its
atoms. For example, if the electrolysis of water is performed with the use of an electrolyser, water would
decompose into oxygen and hydrogen gases.

The type of electrolyser to used depends on the electrolyte material. The one used for electrolysis
of water is an electrolyser with solid electrolyte called Polymer Electrolye membrane or PEM Electrolyser.
The core of the PEM electrolyser is a proton-conducting polymer membrane, the solid polymer electrolyte
is the part responsible for the separation of gases.
Apparatus

PEM Electrolyser
Voltage Source
Gas storage tanks
Connector tubes
Locks

Set-Up

Figure 4.2. Circuit Diagram

Figure 4.2. Experiment set-up using the De Lorenzo GREEN KIT

Procedure

1. Switch on the device as described in the operating instructions.

2. Allow several minutes of gas production before starting to record data.
3. Interrupt the power supply to the electrolyser.
4. Open the outlet valves of the gas storage tanks to completely release the gases produced.
5. Once the gases have been removed, fill the storage tanks completely with distilled water.
6. The water level must coincide with the 0 cm3 graduation mark, when viewed horizontally.
Now close the gas storage tank outlet valves.
7. Begin measuring the time from the moment you connect the electrolyser to the power source.
8. Record the voltage applied to the electrolyser and the current flowing through it.
9. Record the time, voltage and current values at each of the graduation marks. The time rate of
gas production for both hydrogen and oxygen are to be taken simultaneously. Use Table 4.1
for hydrogen, and Table 4.2 for oxygen.
10. Take the last measurement when the hydrogen storage tank is completely filled with gas.

Table 4.1. Hydrogen gas production

Volume of H2 VO Time Voltage Current
VH2 (cm3) t (s) U (V) I (mA)
0 0 0 5.61 75
5 2.5 248 5.243 380
10 5 338 5.410 560
15 7.5 402 5.165 620
20 10 465 5.134 880
25 12.5 520 5.052 1200
30 15 558 4.84 1200
Guide Questions

1. How does an electrolyser work?

An electrolyzer is a piece of electrochemical apparatus (something that uses electricity and

chemistry at the same time) designed to perform electrolysis: splitting a solution into
the atoms from which it's made by passing electricity through it. The water molecule is held
together by the electromagnetic attraction between these ions. The positive hydrogen ions are
attracted to the negative terminal and recombine in pairs to form hydrogen gas (H2). Likewise,
the negative oxygen ions are drawn to the positive terminal and recombine in pairs there to
form oxygen gas (O2).

2. What is the difference between distilled water and tap water? Why do fuel cells use only
distilled water?
The difference is that the tap water is directly supplied from the home faucet, while distilled
water is water taken from any source that has gone through a distillation process. Tap water
contains compounds, such as iron, chlorine, magnesium and natural minerals that either are
added by the public water system or have gotten in the water supply. Distilled water is in its
purest form, with no bacteria or inorganic compounds.

3. Compare the rates of gas generation for both hydrogen and oxygen.
As everyone knows a water molecule is formed by two elements: two positive Hydrogen
ions and one negative Oxygen ion. Since the Hydrogen ion is twice the oxygens. The time it
takes to fill the 30cm3 of Hydrogen two times faster than the time to fill up the oxygen.
Efficiency:

2
= =

1 3
303 ( ) (12.745106 )
100
= 100
4.84 (1.2)(558 )

=13.76%
INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

This is the fourth experiment and it is all about PEM Electrolyser. In this experiment, the main
objective is to understand how electrolyser works, and to observe and analyze the process of separating
hydrogen and oxygen from distilled water by utilizing the PEM Electrolyser. Electrolysis is a chemical
decomposition produced by passing an electric current through a liquid or solution containing ions.

In conducting the experiment, a water (must be distilled) is placed in the container and two
terminals are dip into it. In order for electricity to pass, the terminals are to be connected to a power supply
or battery. A water molecule is formed by two elements: two positive Hydrogen ions and one negative
Oxygen ion. The water molecule is held together by the electromagnetic attraction between these ions.
When electricity is introduced to water through two electrodes, a cathode (negative) and an anode (positive),
these ions are attracted to the opposite charged electrode. Therefore the positively charged hydrogen ions
will collect on the cathode and the negatively charged oxygen will collect on the anode.

And in this experiment, we can observe that the time it takes to fill the 30cm3 of Hydrogen two
times faster than the time to fill up the oxygen since the Hydrogen ion is twice the oxygens.
CONCLUSION

Electrolysis is the chemical decomposition produced by passing an electric current through a

liquid or solution containing ions.

Distilled water contains little to none contaminants making it suitable for electrolysis.

The PEM electrolyser has a cell voltage efficiency of 57%-69%