PEM Electrolyser Balance of Plant Masterclass
Optimising Balance of Plant and Maximising Safety in PEM Electrolyzer Systems
PEM Electrolyser Balance of Plant Masterclass free download
Optimising Balance of Plant and Maximising Safety in PEM Electrolyzer Systems
This in-depth technical course is designed for engineers and professionals working with PEM electrolyzers at scale. With rich real-world experience and a signature engaging delivery style, Hunor will take you beyond the textbook—into the lived complexity of green hydrogen production systems.
You’ll explore:
PEM stack operation: proton exchange dynamics, water crossover, and internal charge retention
Balance of Plant (BoP) engineering: ultrapure water systems (0.09 µS/cm), plate heat exchangers, adiabatic vs. refrigerant cooling, and desiccant dryers cycling hot/cold gas
Stack cell voltage monitoring, hydrogen-side pressure drop analysis, and safety interlocks
Hydrogen safety is a key focus. You’ll cover:
The explosive window of 4%–75% H₂ in air, and why PEM electrolyzers are especially risky indoors
LEL-based detector calibration (%LEL ≠ %H₂) and shutdown thresholds across international codes
Hydrogen back-diffusion from 30 bar cathode to low-pressure anode—why minimum current density must be maintained to prevent flammable O₂-H₂ mixes
Real-world failure case studies, including the Cureboard 2019 explosion
A deep dive into electrical safety includes:
Why isolated stacks remain lethal due to capacitor-like charge storage
How PEM stacks act like low-efficiency fuel cells when idle, recharging with ambient H₂/O₂
How to use dischargers, lockout procedures, and continuous grounding to prevent fatal shocks—even days after shutdown
Finally, you’ll examine the latest in stack durability innovation:
Extra cathode-side cooling to prevent hotspots and membrane thinning
Light anode pressurization to shrink O₂ bubble size and improve membrane hydration
Modular, isolable stack arrays (e.g. Enapter's 420-stack Nexus and Omium’s redundancy approach) for serviceability and resilience
Trade-offs in catalyst loading and water purification cost-benefit at system scale
By the end, you’ll understand how to safely run and optimize PEM electrolyzers in the field—balancing cost, safety, durability, and performance with confidence.
