Diagnostic and Performance Analysis of a Water Electrolyzer by Magnetic Field Measurements

Abstract

The distribution of the magnetic field generated by an electromagnetic device can provide insights into their operational condition. This paper focuses on diagnosing electrolyzers through magneto-tomography, a method which involves mapping the magnetic field generated by electrical devices. Since current density and magnetic field are directly linked, this study can characterize the normal and abnormal operation of an electrolyzer. To achieve this, a two-dimensional (2-D) Biot–Savart model in polar coordinates is developed. To validate this model for electrolyzer diagnostics, an experimental setup was established to replicate the electrolyzer operation. The purely analytical model was successfully validated, with the average difference between the analytical results and experimental measurements established. The model validation is performed by comparing the experimental data to the theoretical results, and it is observed that the difference does not exceed 5%.