ABSTRACT
Hydrogen production by the electrolytic decomposition of water is simple, reliable, clean, and based upon scientific principles that were demonstrated in the early 1800s. However, water electrolysis has not been used extensively for hydrogen production because of the high cost of electric energy compared to natural gas or naphtha. Since the electrolysis plant design is essentially unaffected by the decision to use oxygen, and the use of oxygen on site will probably be uncommon, this chapter concentrates exclusively on hydrogen as the product of water electrolysis. It examines how closely this limit might be approached by advances in electrolysis technology. Water electrolysis is a well-established method for the production of hydrogen. Competitive electrolyzers using tank or filter-press designs are available from a limited number of established manufacturers but serve only a very limited market.
