Advances in Energy Conversion System

Dear Colleagues,

Hydrogen production via water electrolysis has taken advantage of a growing interest from nations all over the world to start the decarbonization of some economic sectors, especially the industry and transportation sectors. The principle of the water electrolysis process relies on the use of electricity to split the pure water into oxygen and hydrogen. The water electrolysis process is performed by an electrolyzer. Since electrolyzers are electrochemical conversion systems like fuel cells, they include an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte. Different technologies of electrolyzers exist in which their operation principles vary depending on the type of used electrolyte. The three types of electrolyzers are alkaline, proton exchange membrane (PEM), and solid oxide (SO). Alkaline and PEM electrolyzers are commercially available in the market, and they present both advantages and drawbacks.

To supply them from low-carbon power sources (wind turbines, marine energy, hydro energy, and photovoltaics), they request the use of power electronics such as AC-DC and/or DC-DC converters according to the used power source and power ratings. Additionally, power electronics have to meet several technical issues from the control and reliability points of view. Furthermore, for alkaline and PEM electrolyzers, modeling, diagnosis, and accelerated aging are currently crucial issues that have to be investigated.

Only by considering and meeting these technical barriers can the dissemination of these technologies be made easier for different purposes (transportation, medical, energy storage, power-to-gas, and industry).

This Special Issue aims at attracting original high-quality papers and review articles focused on alkaline and PEM electrolyzer technologies and their power electronics related to their aging, control, diagnosis, modeling, and reliability.

Prospective authors may submit contributions dealing with (but not limited to) the following:

• Modeling of alkaline and PEM electrolyzers;
• Fault diagnosis in alkaline and PEM electrolyzers;
• Development of mitigation strategies to optimize the operation of alkaline and PEM electrolyzers;
• Investigation of the degradation of alkaline and PEM electrolyzers under dynamic and start/stop operations;
• Impact of power electronics on the operation of alkaline and PEM electrolyzers;
• Aging study on alkaline and PEM electrolyzers;
• Control of power electronics to supply alkaline and PEM electrolyzers;
• Fault diagnosis and fault-tolerant control of power electronics;
• Reliability of electrolyzers and power electronics.

Prof. Michel Zasadzinski
Dr. Damien Guilbert
Guest Editors

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