How a PEM Cells inside a Stack are Supplied by Power Internally? #PEM #Electrolysis #hydrogen

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Someone has asked me recently about how the different cells within the PEM electrolyzer stack are connected electrically. In the event where we only have one cell, the situation is simple enough. The bipolar plates are made out of electrically conductive materials. However, the proton exchange membrane is made out of an electrically insulating material as it does not allow the conductance of electrons, but it only allows the conductance of the protons. Hence, it's called the proton exchange membrane. It allows the exchange of protons. So as the proton is repelled by the positive and attracted by the negative, it goes over to the other side of the membrane and it then meets with an electron which is coming from the negative, and one electron and one proton will form one hydrogen atom. Now we have two cells. The situation is going to be more difficult because once we've split the hydrogen atom into one proton and one electron, the electron is going to go off into the electrical connections and the proton is going to cross over to the other side. But where does the electron come from into the cathode side of this membrane? Well, it will come through from the next cell, from the anode chamber of the next cell. So from the anode chamber of the next cell, the electron will go over the bipolar plate and it will go back into the cathode chamber of this cell. I hope that makes sense. Please do subscribe, or if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.