IJ
IJCRM
International Journal of Contemporary Research in Multidisciplinary
ISSN: 2583-7397
Open Access • Peer Reviewed
Impact Factor: 5.67

International Journal of Contemporary Research In Multidisciplinary, 2025;4(6):07-10

Design And Experimental Evaluation of a Compact Alkaline Water Electrolyzer for Hydrogen Production

Author Name: Dr. Getme Abhijit Sudamrao;   Mohit Dongarwar;   Tejas Ukey;   Soham Fuktakar;  

1. Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, J.D. College of Engineering & Management, Nagpur, India

2. Student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, J.D. College of Engineering & Management, Nagpur, India, India

3. Student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, J.D. College of Engineering & Management, Nagpur, India, India

4. Student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, J.D. College of Engineering & Management, Nagpur, India, India

Abstract

This study develops a compact alkaline water electrolyser for small-scale hydrogen production, utilising a transparent acrylic chamber, stainless steel electrodes, and 25% NaOH electrolyte. Experimental results confirmed hydrogen and oxygen generation at ~0.05 L/min with ~50% Faraday efficiency, limited by low current density (~20 mA/cm²). Optimisation strategies, including Ni-Mo electrodes, 30% NaOH, and 60°C operation, could enhance efficiency to ~65–70% and yield to ~0.15 L/min. Compared to proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers, the system offers lower costs (~₹15,000 vs. ₹1,00,000/kW) but reduced flexibility. Hydrogen storage challenges were addressed with metal hydride and high-pressure solutions. The cost-effective, portable design is ideal for educational and renewable energy applications, with potential for industrial scalability upon optimisation. This work advances low-cost hydrogen production, supporting sustainable energy transitions.

Keywords

Alkaline water electrolysis, Faraday efficiency, PEM comparison, hydrogen storage, electrolyser cost