A Variational Approach to the Control of Electrochemical Hydrogen Reactions

Abstract

The optimal control problem for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) system is posed for different cost objectives and admissible control strategies. The solution for the set-point-change process is given in analytical terms when the admissible controls are the continuous functions of time, and as an implicit feedback law for the piecewise-continuous case. In both cases the cost functional includes a term related to the electrochemical power spent in the process, which is more involved than the classical quadratic type. The theoretical framework remains into the Calculus of Variations for infinite-horizon problems. The Hamiltonian control formalism is adapted to treat the problem when the final time is bounded.