Topology Optimization and Additive Manufacturing for Improving a High-Pressure Electrolyzer Design
Source abstract
Abstract
Water electrolyzers are of great interest for a wide range of space applications, serving as an efficient tool to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen for use in fuel cells or for oxygen for humans. In order to efficiently store these gases by electrolysis and to avoid the use of second-stage compressors, the electrolyzer must be designed to sustain high pressures of 13.8 MPa or more. At these operating pressures, the end plates dominate the overall mass and volume of the electrolyzer to ensure sufficient structural integrity. This article considers the use of topology optimization to find mathematically optimal distributions of material for the light-weighting of the end plates of an electrolyzer. In addition, the article details the topology optimization problem definition and implementation as well as discusses the performance comparison and benefits between the non-intuitive optimal mass solution and the state-of-practice design. We find that with topology optimization, and additive manufacturing, it is possible to design and fabricate end plates for high-pressure electrolysis systems with dramatic decreases in mass and volume. The viability of manufacturing a topology-optimized design was demonstrated by powder bed fusion additive manufacturing for one of the Ti-6Al-4V end plates.
Source: expertdata · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Machine Learning in Materials Science · Titanium Alloys Microstructure and Properties · Topology Optimization in Engineering
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
References (18)
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