An extendible component-based multiphysics model of a single alkaline water electrolysis cell

Advanced modeling methods are key to find performance improvements. However, the multiphysics nature of alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) makes development of such models challenging, especially for fast and dynamic simulations. In this work a 0D extendible, physics-based, multiphysics model of a single cell for AWE with a component-based approach is developed in OpenModelica. The 0D model is compared with a study at a 3D scale showing comparable results for a polarization curve. Gas crossover is studied for different operating conditions. By modeling the cell components separately it is possible to observe a temperature distribution in the different cell components. The effect of the flow rate is studied, allowing to observe its important role on several quantities. Finally, the extendibility of the model allows to study phenomena in 1D in a fast way where the evolution of quantities through the length of the cell, including current density distribution, can be observed. • Multiphysics model of an alkaline electrolysis cell in OpenModelica. • 0D, component-based fast and dynamic simulation. • Model extendible to 1D to study spatial distribution and evolution of quantities. • Shows different heat contribution in each electrode. • Importance of flow rate in assessment of voltage, gas crossover and temperature.