Fault diagnosis using residuals generation for anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17979/ja-cea.2025.46.12267Keywords:
AEM Water Electrolyzer, Fault Diagnosis, State-Space Modeling, Nonlinear Observers, Residual GenerationAbstract
Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers (AEMWEs) are a promising technology for clean hydrogen production, yet they remain vulnerable to faults that can impair performance and safety. This paper presents a model-based fault diagnosis framework for AEMWEs using nonlinear observers and residual generation. A comprehensive nonlinear state-space model is
developed to capture the key electrochemical and transport dynamics of the system. A Luenberger-type nonlinear observer is designed to estimate the internal states, and a structured residual generation strategy is proposed to detect and isolate specific faults. The method is evaluated under three fault scenarios: a current actuator fault, a voltage sensor bias, and a hydrogen flow
sensor offset. Each fault is identified through distinct residual signatures, enabling reliable diagnosis. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme, demonstrating its potential to enhance the operational reliability and safety of AEMWE systems.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Hamza Assia, Imad Zakaria Meftah, Pablo González Camacho, Meriem Belkedari, Kumars Rouzbehi, Juan Manuel Escaño

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