Lasting protection thanks to hydrogen cleanliness monitoring
To ensure that hydrogen applications run smoothly, HYDAC presents the PSA-H6, a portable system for precise condition monitoring. The innovative particle sampling enables quick and easy early detection of contaminants on site or in the laboratory, reliably preventing costly system downtimes in production, infrastructure and fuel cells. As many H2 systems are still in the prototype or pre-series stage, it's all the more important to ensure reliable and safe operation from the outset.
High-purity hydrogen – a challenge for modern H2 systems
Hydrogen cleanliness isn't a luxury. It's the key to the safety and efficiency of future technology – especially in manufacturing, infrastructure and H2 vehicles. Even the smallest amount of contamination can impair the performance of catalytic converters, turbines or fuel cells, leading to costly failures.
In production, even the lowest traces of foreign substances can directly impact performance and lead to downtimes. In H2 systems, even the smallest amount of contamination can determine the reliability of seals, valves and pressure systems. Contaminants can also accelerate corrosion and cause leaks, which significantly compromises operational reliability.
This is the Achilles' heel of H2 vehicle technology: membranes, electrodes and entire fuel cell stacks experience a decline in performance density, service life and prediction accuracy. In short: highly pure hydrogen makes tanks, fuel cells and the entire infrastructure more efficient as well as safer.
The PSA-H6's scope of application is further enhanced by test benches and research facilities.
Our solution for low-pressure systems: HYDAC ParticleSampling Adapter PSA‑H6
Reliable hydrogen monitoring makes it possible to determine the quality of both the hydrogen and the components that use it and prevent system failures. The ParticleSampling Adapter PSA-H6 - developed by HYDAC experts in hydrogen and technical cleanliness, is a portable device designed for targeted hydrogen sampling to detect solid contamination.
The gas is channelled through a membrane at a pressure of up to 60 bar via a hose-guided suction mechanism to ensure that contamination is reliably captured. The membrane can be examined in a laboratory or right on-site to identify the number, size, and type of particles, enabling conclusions to be drawn about the causes of the contamination. The PSA-H6 also bridges the gap to HYDAC's H2 filtration solutions, providing a foundation for improvement measures and predictive maintenance planning. In the future, the system is also expected to be compatible with other technical gases, such as biogas or ammonia, to expand its range of applications.
Oleksii Kukhanovskyi, Manager for Sensor Systems
With the PSA-H6, we bring proven HYDAC precision straight to the hydrogen infrastructure. By analysing particles early and accurately, we reliably protect sensitive fuel cells and components against damage – a crucial step towards a cost-effective and safe hydrogen future.
