Comparative Measurement Study of 12-Pulse Thyristor and 2-Level Voltage Source Converter in PEM Water Electrolyzer Test Setup

Simo Vuorsalo; Kaj Nikiforow; Jere Hiltunen; Matti Kauhanen; Markku Niemelä; Jorma Kyyrä

doi:10.1109/ECCE-Europe62795.2025.11238410

Comparative Measurement Study of 12-Pulse Thyristor and 2-Level Voltage Source Converter in PEM Water Electrolyzer Test Setup

Simo Vuorsalo
, Kaj Nikiforow
, Jere Hiltunen
, Matti Kauhanen
, Markku Niemelä
, Jorma Kyyrä

BA8306 Hydrogen production

ABB Drives Oy
Aalto University
Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference article in proceedings › Scientific › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

The need for green hydrogen has created the need to study water electrolysis process in more detail. Current state-of-the-art electrification solutions are thyristor-transformer rectifier systems and the electrolysers are typically connected in parallel or two in series with middle point grounding. In this paper, the electrification and the rectifier is studied. It is imperative to try to increase the voltage instead of current as it is known from the field of power electronics that increasing current increases costs. Therefore, in this paper the parallel and serial connections of PEM electrolyser stack system in the same system is compared with commercial thyristor and PWM-based active rectifiers. The focus is on the electrical quantities and Specific Energy Consumption (SEC). Hydrogen production in both connection methods is measured and reported.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2025 Energy Conversion Congress & Expo Europe (ECCE Europe)
Publisher	IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
Pages	1-6
ISBN (Electronic)	979-8-3315-6752-1
ISBN (Print)	979-8-3315-6753-8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/ECCE-Europe62795.2025.11238410
Publication status	Published - 4 Sept 2025
MoE publication type	A4 Article in a conference publication
Event	2025 Energy Conversion Congress & Expo Europe (ECCE Europe) - Birmingham, United Kingdom Duration: 1 Sept 2025 → 4 Sept 2025

Conference

Conference	2025 Energy Conversion Congress & Expo Europe (ECCE Europe)
Period	1/09/25 → 4/09/25

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

Thyristors
Voltage measurement
Costs
Rectifiers
Europe
Electrification
Electrochemical processes
Wire
Water resources
Parasitic capacitance
Water Electrolysis
12-pulse Thyristor Rectifier
Series connected electrolysers
PEM Electrolyser
Active Rectifier

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10.1109/ECCE-Europe62795.2025.11238410

Cite this

Vuorsalo, S., Nikiforow, K., Hiltunen, J., Kauhanen, M., Niemelä, M., & Kyyrä, J. (2025). Comparative Measurement Study of 12-Pulse Thyristor and 2-Level Voltage Source Converter in PEM Water Electrolyzer Test Setup. In 2025 Energy Conversion Congress & Expo Europe (ECCE Europe) (pp. 1-6). Article 11238410 IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. https://doi.org/10.1109/ECCE-Europe62795.2025.11238410

@inproceedings{eaea44283a8143a2a698b677fa19236a,

title = "Comparative Measurement Study of 12-Pulse Thyristor and 2-Level Voltage Source Converter in PEM Water Electrolyzer Test Setup",

abstract = "The need for green hydrogen has created the need to study water electrolysis process in more detail. Current state-of-the-art electrification solutions are thyristor-transformer rectifier systems and the electrolysers are typically connected in parallel or two in series with middle point grounding. In this paper, the electrification and the rectifier is studied. It is imperative to try to increase the voltage instead of current as it is known from the field of power electronics that increasing current increases costs. Therefore, in this paper the parallel and serial connections of PEM electrolyser stack system in the same system is compared with commercial thyristor and PWM-based active rectifiers. The focus is on the electrical quantities and Specific Energy Consumption (SEC). Hydrogen production in both connection methods is measured and reported.",

keywords = "Thyristors, Voltage measurement, Costs, Rectifiers, Europe, Electrification, Electrochemical processes, Wire, Water resources, Parasitic capacitance, Water Electrolysis, 12-pulse Thyristor Rectifier, Series connected electrolysers, PEM Electrolyser, Active Rectifier",

author = "Simo Vuorsalo and Kaj Nikiforow and Jere Hiltunen and Matti Kauhanen and Markku Niemel{\"a} and Jorma Kyyr{\"a}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 IEEE.; 2025 Energy Conversion Congress \& Expo Europe (ECCE Europe) ; Conference date: 01-09-2025 Through 04-09-2025",

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doi = "10.1109/ECCE-Europe62795.2025.11238410",

language = "English",

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}

Vuorsalo, S, Nikiforow, K, Hiltunen, J, Kauhanen, M, Niemelä, M & Kyyrä, J 2025, Comparative Measurement Study of 12-Pulse Thyristor and 2-Level Voltage Source Converter in PEM Water Electrolyzer Test Setup. in 2025 Energy Conversion Congress & Expo Europe (ECCE Europe)., 11238410, IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, pp. 1-6, 2025 Energy Conversion Congress & Expo Europe (ECCE Europe), 1/09/25. https://doi.org/10.1109/ECCE-Europe62795.2025.11238410

Comparative Measurement Study of 12-Pulse Thyristor and 2-Level Voltage Source Converter in PEM Water Electrolyzer Test Setup. / Vuorsalo, Simo; Nikiforow, Kaj; Hiltunen, Jere et al.
2025 Energy Conversion Congress & Expo Europe (ECCE Europe). IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, 2025. p. 1-6 11238410.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference article in proceedings › Scientific › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Comparative Measurement Study of 12-Pulse Thyristor and 2-Level Voltage Source Converter in PEM Water Electrolyzer Test Setup

AU - Vuorsalo, Simo

AU - Nikiforow, Kaj

AU - Hiltunen, Jere

AU - Kauhanen, Matti

AU - Niemelä, Markku

AU - Kyyrä, Jorma

PY - 2025/9/4

Y1 - 2025/9/4

N2 - The need for green hydrogen has created the need to study water electrolysis process in more detail. Current state-of-the-art electrification solutions are thyristor-transformer rectifier systems and the electrolysers are typically connected in parallel or two in series with middle point grounding. In this paper, the electrification and the rectifier is studied. It is imperative to try to increase the voltage instead of current as it is known from the field of power electronics that increasing current increases costs. Therefore, in this paper the parallel and serial connections of PEM electrolyser stack system in the same system is compared with commercial thyristor and PWM-based active rectifiers. The focus is on the electrical quantities and Specific Energy Consumption (SEC). Hydrogen production in both connection methods is measured and reported.

AB - The need for green hydrogen has created the need to study water electrolysis process in more detail. Current state-of-the-art electrification solutions are thyristor-transformer rectifier systems and the electrolysers are typically connected in parallel or two in series with middle point grounding. In this paper, the electrification and the rectifier is studied. It is imperative to try to increase the voltage instead of current as it is known from the field of power electronics that increasing current increases costs. Therefore, in this paper the parallel and serial connections of PEM electrolyser stack system in the same system is compared with commercial thyristor and PWM-based active rectifiers. The focus is on the electrical quantities and Specific Energy Consumption (SEC). Hydrogen production in both connection methods is measured and reported.

KW - Thyristors

KW - Voltage measurement

KW - Costs

KW - Rectifiers

KW - Europe

KW - Electrification

KW - Electrochemical processes

KW - Wire

KW - Water resources

KW - Parasitic capacitance

KW - Water Electrolysis

KW - 12-pulse Thyristor Rectifier

KW - Series connected electrolysers

KW - PEM Electrolyser

KW - Active Rectifier

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U2 - 10.1109/ECCE-Europe62795.2025.11238410

DO - 10.1109/ECCE-Europe62795.2025.11238410

M3 - Conference article in proceedings

SN - 979-8-3315-6753-8

SP - 1

EP - 6

BT - 2025 Energy Conversion Congress & Expo Europe (ECCE Europe)

PB - IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers

T2 - 2025 Energy Conversion Congress & Expo Europe (ECCE Europe)

Y2 - 1 September 2025 through 4 September 2025

ER -

Vuorsalo S, Nikiforow K, Hiltunen J, Kauhanen M, Niemelä M, Kyyrä J. Comparative Measurement Study of 12-Pulse Thyristor and 2-Level Voltage Source Converter in PEM Water Electrolyzer Test Setup. In 2025 Energy Conversion Congress & Expo Europe (ECCE Europe). IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. 2025. p. 1-6. 11238410 doi: 10.1109/ECCE-Europe62795.2025.11238410

Comparative Measurement Study of 12-Pulse Thyristor and 2-Level Voltage Source Converter in PEM Water Electrolyzer Test Setup

Abstract

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

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