A partial element stage cut electrochemical hydrogen pump model for hydrogen separation and compression.

• A partial element stage cut electrochemical hydrogen pump (EHP) model was proposed. • Three real factors were embedded into the model to describe EHP performance accurately. • The acuracy of EHP model was verified for four aspects under four different feedstock systems. • The variation law of current density caused by GDL mass transfer and PEM resistance was simulated and analyzed quantitatively. • The back-diffusion behavior of hydrogen under cathode high pressure was simulated and analyzed quantitatively. In this work, a partial element stage cut electrochemical hydrogen pump (EHP) model for the separation of multiple H 2 -contaning gases and hydrogen compression was proposed to realize fast prediction of the EHP's performance (nearly 10 s for one I EHP – E point). Three real factors, namely, anode impurity diffusion, hydrogen back-diffusion and anode catalyst deactivation, were embedded into the model. The model accuracy was verified for four aspects (current density distribution, polarization curve, hydrogen recovery and purity) under four feedstock systems (H 2 /N 2 , H 2 /CH 4 , H 2 /He and H 2 /CO 2) and a wide cathode pressure range of 0.1–1.0 MPa. The model had good accuracy ( R 2 ≥ 0.90). Benefiting from the embedding of the real factor of the hydrogen back-diffusion, hydrogen back-diffusion ratio was simulated accurately under a wide cathode pressure range of 0.13–20 MPa. By considering the dual- effect on current density caused by PEM proton conduction and GDL mass transformation resistance, optimal region of hydrogen recovery rate, energy efficiency and hydrogen purity can be simulated. About 64 % and 53 % for hydrogen recovery rate and energy efficiency can be achieved under low hydrogen feedstock of 20 mol%. In summary, it is promising to realize the "hydrogen economy" in the future under the utilization of EHP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]