Technology Unit

Solid Oxide Electrolyzer (SOE), also known as High Temperature Electrolysis, has the following key components:
💨 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 – Unlike PEM and AWE which use liquid water, SOE utilizes high temperature (~800⁰C) steam as feed.
➖ 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝗲 – The nickel-based electrode catalyzes steam breaking up with electrons into hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen ions (O₂⁻).
💡 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝘆𝘁𝗲 – The ceramic-based electrolyte conducts O₂⁻ from the Cathode to the Anode.
➕ 𝗔𝗻𝗼𝗱𝗲 – O₂⁻ is converted into O₂ gas. Air is blown in to push produced O₂ out of the electrolyzer, producing oxygen rich air.
💧 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 – The H₂ product is separated from steam by condensing water which will be recycled.
🌡️ 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 – Recovered water is reheated into steam before it is recycled. This allows about 30% of the electrolyzer’s electricity consumption to be substituted with low-grade heat.

1. Joaquim Tsu, Bryan Research & Engineering, LLC, Jan 2023, Linkedin, https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7018421385903439872-QeoX