BAM's new research refueling station: Real-time monitoring of all processes for a safe hydrogen infrastructure.
Source: BAM
The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) today put into operation a digitally monitored research refueling station for hydrogen, unique in Germany, at its Technical Safety Test Site. The aim is to develop innovative technologies for quality assurance across all technical processes at hydrogen infrastructure facilities under real operating conditions and to test them in collaboration with industry and research partners.
The facility enables all technical processes relating to a hydrogen refueling station to be tested under realistic conditions. It allows for detailed investigation of safety-relevant aspects such as leaks and material stress, and optimization of innovative digital technologies for process monitoring, quality assurance, and maintenance planning. This will significantly improve the availability and cost-efficiency of such facilities, and, in turn, support broader acceptance of the hydrogen infrastructure.
"In partnership projects with industry and academia, we want to address quality and safety-related research questions," explains Frank Wille, Head of the Containment Systems for Dangerous Goods; Energy Storage Department at BAM. "For example, we want to optimize maintenance cycles, detect critical conditions at an early stage, and further develop quality and safety standards for reliable hydrogen refueling stations. At the same time, the research refueling station serves as an ideal real-world laboratory for hydrogen infrastructure, where we can test all elements of future digital quality assurance."
The BAM research refueling station will be supplied with green hydrogen via its own electrolyzer, which will be powered by electricity from a photovoltaic system in the future. All technical processes can be monitored online in real time, with sensors recording all operating data so that it can be integrated into digital twins.
The pilot project is supported by the Quality Infrastructure Digital initiative and is embedded in BAM's Competence Center H2Safety@BAM, which conducts research into the safety of modern hydrogen technologies.