Optimizing Current-Fed, GaN-Based DC-DC Converters for Electrolysis Applications

The market for proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers is expected to grow substantially in the coming years, following an increasing demand for green hydrogen. Power electronics is a key enabling technology for supplying future PEM electrolyzers, however the literature addressing power-electronic converters for electrolysis applications is still quite limited. This paper addresses a dc-dc converter for a 10 kW PEM electrolyzer using gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor devices and performs a multi-objective optimization for efficiency and power density. In contrast to previous work, a very wide topology family is considered. From the results, critical design decisions are deduced. Moreover, the same genetic algorithm is used to identify efficiency-optimized modulation strategies. The gained insights significantly broaden the scope of suitable dc-dc converter topologies for electrolysis applications.