System and method for reducing impurity buildup in electrolyzer systems

Abstract

A method of operating an electrolyzer system includes providing steam to a stack of electrolyzer cells through a steam filter, electrolyzing the steam into a hydrogen product in the stack of electrolyzer cells, receiving data from one or more sensors indicating that the filter requires cleaning or replacement, and cleaning or replacing the steam filter in response to the receiving the data from the one or more sensors indicating that the steam filter requires cleaning or replacement.

1 . A method of operating an electrolyzer system, comprising:
 providing steam to a stack of electrolyzer cells through a steam filter;   electrolyzing the steam into a hydrogen product in the stack of electrolyzer cells;   receiving data from one or more sensors indicating that the filter requires cleaning or replacement; and   cleaning or replacing the steam filter in response to the receiving the data from the one or more sensors indicating that the steam filter requires cleaning or replacement.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing air to the stack of electrolyzer cells. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the steam filter comprises a sintered metal filter, a pleated metal mesh filter, or a pleated—sintered metal filter; and   the stack of electrolyzer cells comprises a stack of solid oxide electrolyzer cells.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning or replacing the filter comprises chemically cleaning the steam filter to remove impurity buildup in the steam filter. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning or replacing the steam filter comprises replacing the steam filter. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the steam is provided to the stack of electrolyzer cells through a steam conduit; and   the steam filter is located in the steam conduit.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the at least one sensor comprises a steam pressure or flow rate sensor that is located on the steam conduit downstream of the steam filter; and   the cleaning or replacing the steam filter is performed in response to the receiving the data from the steam pressure or flow rate sensor that a measured steam pressure or flow rate decreased below a threshold value.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the at least one sensor comprises a differential pressure sensor that is located on the steam conduit upstream and downstream of the steam filter; and   the cleaning or replacing the steam filter is performed in response to the receiving the data from the differential pressure sensor that a measured differential pressure increased above a threshold value.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 vaporizing water into the steam in a steam generator;   providing the steam from the steam generator into the steam conduit;   receiving additional data indicating that the steam generator requires cleaning or replacement; and   cleaning or replacing the steam generator in response to the receiving the additional data indicating that the steam generator requires cleaning or replacement.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the receiving the additional data comprises receiving telemetry data from at least one steam generator temperature sensor that the steam generator requires a heating element temperature that is above a threshold temperature value to maintain a predetermined steam flow through the steam conduit. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the receiving the additional data comprises receiving data from at least one steam pressure or flow rate sensor located on the steam conduit upstream of the steam filter that steam pressure or flow rate is below a threshold value. 
     
     
         12 . A method of operating an electrolyzer system, comprising:
 vaporizing water into steam in a steam generator;   providing the steam from the steam generator to a stack of electrolyzer cells through a steam conduit;   electrolyzing the steam into a hydrogen product in the stack of electrolyzer cells;   receiving data indicating that the steam generator requires cleaning or replacement; and   cleaning or replacing the steam generator in response to the receiving the data indicating that the steam generator requires cleaning or replacement.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the receiving the data comprises receiving telemetry data from at least one steam generator temperature sensor that the steam generator requires a heating element temperature that is above a threshold temperature value to maintain a predetermined steam flow through the steam conduit. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the receiving the data comprises receiving data from at least one steam pressure or flow rate sensor located on the steam conduit upstream of the steam filter that steam pressure or flow rate is below a threshold value. 
     
     
         15 . An electrolyzer system, comprising:
 a steam conduit connecting a steam supply to a stack of electrolyzer cells;   a steam filter located in the steam conduit such that steam in the steam conduit flows through the steam filter; and   one or more sensors configured transmit data indicating that the filter requires cleaning or replacement.   
     
     
         16 . The electrolyzer system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the at least one sensor comprises a steam pressure or flow rate sensor that is located on the steam conduit downstream of the steam filter; and   the data indicating that the filter requires cleaning or replacement comprises data from the steam pressure or flow rate sensor that a measured steam pressure or flow rate decreased below a threshold value.   
     
     
         17 . The electrolyzer system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the at least one sensor comprises a differential pressure sensor that is located on the steam conduit upstream and downstream of the filter; and   the data indicating that the filter requires cleaning or replacement comprises data from the differential pressure sensor that a measured differential pressure increased above a threshold value.   
     
     
         18 . The electrolyzer system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the steam supply comprises a steam generator fluidly connected to the steam conduit upstream of the filter; and   the steam generator is configured to vaporize water into the steam and to provide the steam into the steam conduit.   
     
     
         19 . The electrolyzer system of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one steam generator temperature sensor configured to transmit telemetry data that the steam generator requires a heating element temperature that is above a threshold temperature value to maintain a predetermined steam flow through the steam conduit. 
     
     
         20 . The electrolyzer system of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one steam pressure or flow rate sensor located on the steam conduit upstream of the steam filter and configured to transmit data that steam pressure or flow rate is below a threshold value.