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Controlling and monitoring fuel cells
Discover our solutions for the automation, electrification, and networking of stationary and maritime fuel cell applications. We support you in controlling and monitoring your systems safely and efficiently.
Safe operation and a long service life without unexpected failures are important prerequisites for the widespread acceptance of fuel cells. In order to realize a specific output power of a fuel cell system, several fuel cell stacks are combined. This combination of stacks requires solutions that transmit both current and data signals. In addition, it is necessary to monitor and control important process parameters to ensure the correct and efficient operation of the fuel cell. These include the temperature within the stacks, pressures of fuel and air or oxygen, and electrical stack parameters. The scope of all the monitoring and control functions involved therefore requires an automatic control system. Furthermore, the safety of the entire fuel cell system must be ensured at all times and a suitable safety concept must be in place.
Solution
Smart operation of fuel cells
Whether in the context of an emergency power application, in use as a grid replacement system, or in the maritime sector, our open PLCnext Technology ecosystem allows you to control and monitor your fuel cell application efficiently and safely. PLCnext Technology and Axioline I/O offer a modular automation kit that allows you to integrate all relevant sensors and actuators. In addition to the acquisition of standard signals, it is also possible to integrate safety-critical signals via functionally safe I/O modules and to integrate intrinsically safe signals. With IEC 62443 certification and the consistent use of open communication interfaces, you can easily connect your fuel cell application to higher-level data acquisition systems in an IT-safe manner.
Access to decentral fuel cells
Fuel cell systems are ideal for decentral use. We offer various options for secure remote access to your application. This means that you can perform maintenance and service jobs quickly and efficiently and 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.
Structure of an example control and monitoring solution
Fuel cells can lose substantial performance capacity even with slight deviations from the optimum operating conditions. It is therefore necessary to monitor and control the critical operating parameters, including the operating temperatures and pressures, as well as the electrical stack parameters. To do this, power, signal, and data connections are required on a large scale for safe and reliable operation of fuel cells.
Security routers
With comprehensive security functions, the mGuard security routers protect your industrial network against unauthorized access by people or malware.
COMPLETE line – industry-specific solutions for the control cabinet
Set up control cabinets quickly and easily with the comprehensive and coordinated COMPLETE line product portfolio. The COMPLETE line products have a uniform design and uniform haptics, which makes them very easy to install.
I would be happy to advise you on the way to a carbon-neutral future with green hydrogen.
We support you in the implementation of your power-to-X application with our comprehensive portfolio in the fields of automation, networking, and connection technology – combined with our experience in the fields of functional safety, cybersecurity, and explosion protection.
Guaranteed safety
To also use fuel cells in critical infrastructure, comprehensive protection against cyberattacks is required. Ensuring system conformity with regard to functional safety and explosion protection also plays an important role. Together with our customers, we develop a thorough analysis of the possible hazards and create a suitable safety concept.
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 ideal solution for equipping your control cabinets with more than 100,000 products from connection, communication, and automation technology.
