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Computational multi-physics modeling of membranes in proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Authors

  • Alberto Antonini
  • Yousef Heider
  • Giovanna Xotta
  • Valentina Salomoni
  • Fadi Aldakheel

External Research Organisations

  • University of Padova

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number117974
Number of pages31
JournalComputer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering
Volume441
Early online date12 Apr 2025
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2025

Abstract

The present work provides a modeling framework to capture the complex multi-physics electro-chemical-hydro-mechanical processes in membranes of multilayer Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis (PEMWE) cells. It relies on the Theory of Porous Media (TPM) to establish a continuum-based framework suitable for efficient simulation of the coupled interactions of porous multiphase materials. This macroscopic framework is capable of accurately representing the local interactions among the immiscible phases, including membrane deformation, water transport, nanopore pressure dynamics, and proton diffusion, all of which are essential for PEMWE functionality. Numerical simulations in two- and three-dimensional space are presented to verify the capabilities of the model and to address key numerical stability challenges of the strongly coupled problem. The numerical implementations are carried out using the open-access finite element package FEniCSx. The corresponding source codes are openly available at [ https://doi.org/10.25835/5s3p3a8s], allowing reproducibility by interested researchers.

Keywords

    Finite element method, Green hydrogen production, Multi-physics modeling, Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis, Theory of porous media

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Sustainable Development Goals

Cite this

Computational multi-physics modeling of membranes in proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers. / Antonini, Alberto; Heider, Yousef; Xotta, Giovanna et al.
In: Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, Vol. 441, 117974, 01.06.2025.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Antonini A, Heider Y, Xotta G, Salomoni V, Aldakheel F. Computational multi-physics modeling of membranes in proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. 2025 Jun 1;441:117974. Epub 2025 Apr 12. doi: 10.1016/j.cma.2025.117974
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AU - Antonini, Alberto

AU - Heider, Yousef

AU - Xotta, Giovanna

AU - Salomoni, Valentina

AU - Aldakheel, Fadi

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Authors

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