Knowledge of basic hydrogen safety is required, references are provided to assist in developing this knowledge. To measure the efficiency of a single cell proton exchange membrane electrolyzer and to develop a basic understanding of its operation. This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Utility Technologies, Hydrogen Program Office 7. tubing and tubing connectors, suitable for hydrogen operation 8. When renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power are used to produce electrical power, the output can vary depending on weather conditions. By using renewable sources to produce hydrogen, a fuel which can be stored and transported, a reliable and continuously available energy supply with a predictable long-term average output is created.
Electrolysis is one method of converting renewable energy into hydrogen fuel.
In this experiment we examine the use of an electrolyzer based on polymer-electrolyte membrane technology to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen is vented to the atmosphere and the hydrogen is stored in a small pressure vessel. Reference 1 provides a general description of hydrogen and hydrogen containers and references 2-4 are intended to provide an introduction to hydrogen safety. It is the responsibility of the experimenter to develop a working knowledge of the appropriate hydrogen safety requirements. A schematic of the experimental apparatus is shown in Figure 1.