Electrolysis splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity. This produces green hydrogen, which can be used directly or further processed into sustainable fuels such as methane or methanol. Precise control and automation solutions are essential to ensure that the electrolyzers work efficiently, safely, and economically. With PLCnext Technology, Phoenix Contact offers an open, modular platform for the automation of electrolyzers. It integrates functional safety and cybersecurity.
In order to reduce the process costs of electrolysis plants, solutions are needed that enable efficient and cost-effective plant operation. Acquiring and transmitting field data is a complex task and must not negatively impact operational safety. This includes a continuous power supply, both during operation and at standstill.
Equally important is the control of the electrolysis process, especially during plant startup and shutdown and in the event of fluctuations in the available renewable energy. Other tasks include dissipating process heat as well as circulating and regulating the temperature of the water and electrolyte. In addition, numerous process parameters must be monitored with sensors, especially the purity of the hydrogen produced.
The open PLCnext Technology Ecosystem enables you to control and monitor the entire electrolysis process, including all associated processes and systems. The solution supports maintenance concepts based on diagnostic signals. PLCnext Technology records the sensor data synchronously and evaluates it in the appropriate format. This enables electrolyzers to be controlled based on a complete set of current data. This shortens planning and decision-making processes and increases system efficiency through intelligent data utilization. AI-supported analyses detect deviations from normal operation at an early stage. It is possible to link to external databases as well as model and scenario calculations via Matlab Simulink or PLCnext Technology.
We offer various options for secure remote access to your electrolysis plants. This means that you can perform maintenance and service jobs quickly and efficiently, as well as significantly reduce costly and time-consuming on-site service calls.
For data transmission, we offer our mGuard Secure Cloud solution. This turnkey remote maintenance solution connects service personnel and systems over the Internet securely and reliably. The mGuard Secure Cloud uses highly secure VPN tunnels and ensures the confidentiality, authenticity, and integrity of data transmitted between the devices.
Our products and solutions enable hydrogen production to be controlled in the control center of the electrolyzer. In addition, they monitor tank levels, control the feed-in of the electrolytes, and control the fans, ventilation, and water pretreatment. Furthermore, we ensure electrical load management and safety-related applications, including emergency shutdown.
Electrolysis plants are covered by the KRITIS regulation for critical infrastructure. In addition, the increasing networking requires security, safety, and explosion protection to be examined side by side. We offer certified products and solutions as well as supporting services in order to minimize your safety and liability risks and to protect your system productivity.
Functional safety mechanisms must be regulated in such a way that failures or potential hazardous situations can be managed. This is best achieved by means of a tailored safety concept.
We provide services to cover the entire safety lifecycle. In addition, our wide range of safety applications is certified in accordance with IEC 61508 and IEC 61511. To keep up to date with the latest knowledge, we will be happy to support you with training courses for employees.
Due to the occurrence of flammable gases, the topic of explosion protection is crucially important in the hydrogen industry. We offer a comprehensive selection of products and solutions for implementing the requirements in potentially explosive areas with various zones. If necessary, we will also train your employees. Furthermore, we support you with the validation and documentation of intrinsic safety.
Digital transformation and the increasing complexity of cyberattacks require a holistic security strategy. In addition, the implementation of cybersecurity measures is a legal requirement. Good protection against cyberattacks can only be achieved if coordinated technical and organizational measures are intermeshed.
This is why we offer a comprehensive 360° security concept that includes secure services, solutions, and products. This simplifies the protection of your systems and offers all-round protection for your plant.
Feel free to contact us. Together, we will find an optimum solution for equipping your control cabinets with our more than 100,000 products from connection, communication, and automation technology.
