BAM Unveils Innovative Hydrogen Research Filling Station in Brandenburg, Germany
Key Ideas
- BAM in Germany unveiled a one-of-a-kind hydrogen research filling station at the Technical Safety Test Site in Brandenburg, designed to improve quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness of hydrogen infrastructure.
- The station is supplied with green hydrogen from an electrolyser powered by a future photovoltaic system, with real-time online monitoring and digital data capture to enhance operational efficiency.
- The initiative aims to optimize maintenance cycles, safety standards, and digital quality assurance for hydrogen filling stations, providing a real-world testing lab for industry and academia to develop innovative digital products.
- Research topics include digital process mapping, sensor-based data analysis, predictive maintenance, and the development of digital structural elements for quality infrastructure within the hydrogen sector.
The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) in Germany has introduced a unique hydrogen research filling station at the Technical Safety Test Site in Horstwalde/Baruth, Brandenburg. Since the early 1990s, BAM has been conducting comprehensive experiments at this site, which now hosts a facility dedicated to testing all technical processes of a hydrogen filling station under realistic conditions. The station will enable the optimization of digital technologies for process monitoring, quality assurance, and maintenance planning, ultimately enhancing the availability and cost-effectiveness of hydrogen facilities to boost public acceptance.
At the core of this research station is the use of green hydrogen produced by an electrolyzer, powered by a future photovoltaic system. Until the system is operational, green hydrogen will be sourced externally. Real-time monitoring of all processes is facilitated through online sensors that capture operational data for utilization in digital models and twins. The initiative, under the Digital Quality Infrastructure project, aims to collaborate with industry and academia to address quality and safety-related queries, improve maintenance cycles, and develop safety standards for reliable hydrogen filling stations.
Research topics at the BAM facility include digital process mapping, sensor-based data acquisition, development of data infrastructure, creation of digital twins, and predictive maintenance for condition monitoring. The hydrogen filling station at the test site comprises essential components like compressors, gas coolers, and dispensers for hydrogen supply to vehicles, including a hydrogen-powered FCEV.
A significant project aspect involves integrating process control technology and sensors on a local hardware platform using concepts from process industries. The data collected will enhance digital models and contribute to hardware reparameterization. The project serves as a platform for testing innovative digital products within an actual hydrogen infrastructure, promoting industry collaboration and digitalization in the hydrogen sector.
Topics
Projects
Innovation
Green Energy
Research
Safety
Industry Collaboration
Digitalization
Digital Technologies
Quality Assurance
Latest News