The Influence of the Flow Direction of KOH Solutions on the Measurement of Dissolved Hydrogen Permeability Through Alkaline Water Electrolysis Membranes

Alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) is a pivotal technology for sustainable hydrogen production. However, hydrogen permeation through its membranes remains a critical concern, as excessive gas crossover can lead to the formation of explosive mixtures and pose severe safety hazards. While conventional measurement techniques, such as pressure drop and electrochemical methods, are suitable for porous membranes, they exhibit inherent limitations when applied to dense membranes such as anion exchange membranes. This study proposes a cross-flow measurement methodology applicable to all types of AWE membranes. Unlike traditional dead-end configurations, the cross-flow approach effectively mitigates impurity accumulation and maintains a continuous electrolyte flow parallel to the membrane surface. This configuration ensures uniform electrolyte distribution, minimizes local concentration and pressure fluctuations, and enhances measurement reliability and reproducibility relative to the conventional dead-end flow. Furthermore, the methodology ensures accurate and reproducible measurements, demonstrating enhanced detection capability for dense membranes with intrinsically low permeability by mitigating fouling and concentration polarization effects. These findings provide a robust framework for the development of high-performance membranes designed to suppress dissolved hydrogen permeability.