Non-Intrusive Diagnosis of PEMWE Degradation Using Linearized Polarization Curve Analysis

Effective monitoring of Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers (PEMWE) is crucial to enhancing performance and extending operational lifespan. Aging phenomena, such as catalyst degradation, membrane thinning, current collector corrosion and bipolar plate passivation, significantly impact efficiency. This study introduces a novel diagnosis method for estimating degradation parameters using linearized polarization curve analysis. The proposed approach employs a linear model derived from Taylor approximation and inflection point search to model the current-voltage relationship, facilitating accurate extraction of the offset and slope of the linearized polarization curve. Despite some inherent limitations, the proposed method provides a valuable tool for real-time diagnosis assessment and state of health estimation, enhancing reliability and longevity and supporting more sustainable hydrogen production.